By Barbara Gayle—

KINGSTON, Jamaica:
Reggae artist Tony Rebel has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to get an order to defend the lawsuit musician Wayne Lattibeaudiere brought against him for breach of copyright.

Rebel’s application came up for hearing yesterday before Supreme Court Judge Georgianna Fraser but could not proceed because the file could not be located.

The hearing was set for May 7 and Tony Rebel has been granted a stay of proceedings until his application has been heard.

Lattibeaudere, popularly known as Jah Wayne, had sued Tony Rebel and his company in 1999 for allegedly using his music without crediting him.

When the hearing began in the Supreme Court last month, it was discovered that as far back as 2006, a default judgment was entered against Tony Rebel because he did not file the relevant documents within the prescribed time ordered by the court.

Attorney-at-law Garth McBean, who is now representing Tony Rebel, said the entertainer is seeking relief from sanction.

If the order for relief is granted, Tony Rebel can defend the claim.

If the court rules in Jah Wayne’s favour, the matter will go for assessment of damages, which can run into the millions.

Lattibeaudiere claims that Tony Rebel breached his copyright in relation to the composition ‘Going Home’ which was released under the title ‘La La Bella’.