Correa Was Counterclaimed by the Authors of “El Gran Hermano” Book

Juan Carlos Calderon and Christian Zurita

Ecuadorian Journalists, authors of “El Gran Hermano” (The Big Brother) book, Juan Carlos Calderon and Christian Zurita answered to the moral damage sue presented by President Rafael Correa and the Minister of Transportation and Public Works, Maria de los Angeles Duarte.

At the trial, the authors counterclaimed and requested a payment of $ 400 000. They base their position on the “illegal and serious acts and expressions” by Correa, which “have caused hatred against us. He is the responsible of a persecution full of insults, threats, abuse, and suits by other Government officials, including the Communications Secretary, Fernando Alvarado; the Legal Secretary of the Presidency, Alexis Mera; former secretary, Galo Mora; and Minister Duarte.

Correa said in court that he asked for moral damage reparation because of the false, malicious, and frivolous allegations against him in the book.

Calderon and Zurita responded that no judge has declared a statement on the falsehood of the book or on the public documents that supported it.

THE LEGAL PROCEDURES

President Rafael Correa demanded journalists Juan Carlos Calderon and Christian Zurita for $ 10 million due to moral damages and Minister Maria de los Angeles sued the journalists for $ 500.000 because of a photo caption made on page 48 of the first edition of the book.

(FO)