Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores, a friend of the late Liam Payne, is suing the singer’s father, Geoff Payne, (Image: Getty)
A close friend of the late singer has filed a defamation lawsuit against the performer’s father Geoff Payne, three months on since his tragic death last October.
In a new lawsuit, Rogelio ‘Roger’ Nores asserts that Geoff’s sworn statements to an Argentinian prosecutor investigating Liam’s death were false and defamatory, causing him over $10 million in damages.
The reports which were shared in , allege that Geoff made false statements implicating him in Liam’s death, including claims that Nores was responsible for Liam’s care and provided him with drugs. Nores denies these allegations, stating he was merely a friend and had no caregiving responsibilities.
“All the proceeds will be donated to my friend’s son,” Nores told the publication. Nores added: “Geoff needs to backtrack on his [sworn] statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker. Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
Additionally, the lawsuit states that, although Geoff’s statements were made in another country, they were “accessed by individuals in the Palm Beach County/Florida area” which caused harm there.
Liam Payne tragically died in October 2024 (Image: Getty)
Liam tragically passed away on October 16, 2024, after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Following his death an autopsy revealed a mixture of drugs in his system.
Since his death, Argentine authorities have charged Nores and others with manslaughter, alleging they failed to prevent the tragedy. Nores maintains his innocence and intends to donate any lawsuit proceeds to Liam’s son, Bear.
According to Nores, he allegedly sent a defamation retraction letter to Geoff’s attorneys on January 8. But two days later in a January 10 response, included in the lawsuit, Liam’s estate refused to retract the statements and accused Nores of “seeking to interfere with a police investigation by pressuring [Geoff] to change his evidence,” further stating they would “bring his actions to the attention of the Argentinian authorities.”
The response letter read: “The Estate could not take this matter more seriously, It has therefore taken the decision to support [Geoff] in this matter. [Geoff] denies, in the strongest possible terms, that he has defamed or otherwise caused any harm to your client (in the manner set out by your correspondence of 8 January 2025 or otherwise).”
The defamation lawsuits Alongside Nores, members of staff at the CasaSur Palermo hotel, including chief receptionist Esteban Grassi and head of security Gilda Martin have allegedly been charged with manslaughter.
Liam Payne’s tycoon pal Roger Nores, 35, filed a lawsuit against the singer’s father this week (Image: Getty)
Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, and hotel employee Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, have also been accused of selling Liam drugs and given 24 hours to return to court, according to local news site Infobae. The crime carries a maximum 15 year prison sentence in Argentina.
Liam’s former pal Nores meanwhile, reports that he left the hotel an hour before the singer’s sad death, however authorities have still reportedly charged him with negligent homicide and banning him from leaving the country.
Prior to the former One Direction singer’s death, hotel workers made two 911 calls to emergency services, with a caller who is believed to be the chief receptionist having reported a guest had taken “too many drugs and alcohol” and was “trashing the room”
The first call then cut out, prompting a second attempt to contact authorities. In the second call, the same caller warned the guest’s life “may be in danger” as the room had a balcony, and asked the operator to send someone “urgently”.