Former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa is seeking $1.1 million from Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt and Lise Marie Schmidt for defamation and false allegations.

The civil matter was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, 14 October, by Fiame’s lawyer, Alex Su’a.

The case stems from comments made by Laaulialemalietoa during electioneering, where he made claims that Fiame was involved in the death of Professor Caroline Gabbard. Fiame claimed that Laaulialemalietoa made the comments knowing them to be false and by doing so damaged her reputation.

According to the statement of claims, during a speech at a political rally of the FAST Party Roadshow at Faasaleleaga No.4 in Savaii on 16 July 2025,  Laaulialemalieto said, "There is already someone from Savaii who is willing to testify that Fiame gave instructions to remove evidence related to the death of the woman who passed away.

“Where is all that evidence? And why is this sin being covered up? If you're going to speak to the country, then let's speak openly, because you cannot keep throwing stones at us while we stay silent. Samoa needs to understand: if a lie is repeated often enough, it starts to sound like the truth. I've never spoken to the country like this since all of these issues began, but I believe now is the time. Zachariah must no longer be muted.

"I told Fiame, before I walked away, that one day we'd be standing together, and then she'd realise the false allegations made against me. I told her to bring in the overseas police to resolve the matter, but nothing was done. She refused. Why? Whose sin is she trying to cover?"

According to Fiame’s statement of claims, words in the statement in their natural and ordinary meaning meant that she instructed a person to remove relevant evidence from the scene of the alleged murder of Professor Caroline Gabbard.

The claims state that Laaulialemalietoa meant that Fiame had conducted herself sinfully and improperly in respect of the investigation of the death of Professor Caroline Gabbard, and Fiame tried to cover up her sinful or improper conduct.

The claims state that Laaulialemalietoa meant that Fiame was responsible for destroying or hiding the evidence, and she had lied to the people of Samoa.

The claims state that Laaulialemalietoa meant that Fiame, while Prime Minister of Samoa, refused to bring in overseas police to resolve the investigation of the death of Tuuau Fa'asavalu in a hit-and-run incident to cover up the sinful or criminal or illegal conduct of other persons who had been involved in the incident.

In Fiame’s claims against Lise Schmidt, Fiame claimed that Schmidt wrote a letter on 3 March 2025 to the Attorney General with false claims, alleging that she was instructed by Fiame to hide evidence linking her to Professor Gabbard.

On the same date, Schmidt wrote another similar letter addressed to the Head of State, Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II.

The letter alleged that Fiame deliberately suppressed critical evidence concerning the death of Professor Gabbard, and she directly ordered Schmidt to take possession of Professor Gabbard's phone and tablet and to ensure those devices were carefully removed from their current location.

Fiame is seeking $500,000 each from Laaulialemalietoa and Schmidt as damages and $50,000 each as costs.

A date for hearing has not been set yet.