MONROVIA, Liberia — A civil lawsuit seeking US$3.5 million in damages has been filed against prominent Liberian philanthropist and businesswoman MacDella Cooper, amid ongoing public controversy surrounding alleged marital claims linked to House Speaker Richard Koon.
The suit was instituted on December 30, 2025, by Cecelia Kpor Koon, who claims to be the lawful wife of Speaker Koon, before the Civil Law Court for the Sixth Judicial Circuit. The matter is being heard during the court’s March 2026 Term, under Resident Circuit Judge Kennedy Peabody.
In her complaint, Mrs. Koon asserts that she lawfully married Richard Koon on July 29, 2015, in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, and that although divorce proceedings are reportedly pending, no final judgment of divorce has been granted. As such, she argues that the marriage remains legally binding under both Liberian and applicable foreign law.
The plaintiff accuses Ms. Cooper of knowingly and deliberately interfering with her marital relationship by allegedly presenting herself publicly as the wife of Richard Koon. According to the lawsuit, these representations were made through social media posts, audio recordings, and public appearances, actions Mrs. Koon claims subjected her to public ridicule, emotional distress, and reputational harm.
Mrs. Koon further alleges that the defendant’s conduct was calculated to alienate her husband’s affection, undermine the sanctity of her marriage, and cause her mental anguish and loss of marital companionship. She maintains that the cumulative effect of these actions has resulted in severe emotional and psychological trauma.
As part of her evidentiary submissions, the plaintiff presented screenshots of online posts and audio materials purportedly showing Ms. Cooper making marital claims. Relying on provisions of Liberia’s Domestic Relations Law, she is asking the court to award US$3.5 million in general damages, impose punitive damages to be determined at trial, grant injunctive relief barring further contact with her husband, and order a public retraction of the alleged marital representations.
Broader Public Controversy
The lawsuit emerges against the backdrop of an intense and highly publicized dispute involving Speaker Richard Koon, who has categorically denied being married to either woman. In a previous public statement, Speaker Koon asserted that Cecelia Kpor Koon is his biological sister, not his spouse, and dismissed her claims as false and damaging. Members of the Koon family have since issued statements supporting the Speaker’s position, further complicating the narrative.
Ms. Cooper, for her part, has also publicly denied wrongdoing, maintaining that she has never knowingly interfered in any lawful marriage and rejecting allegations of misrepresentation.
The competing claims have sparked widespread debate across Liberia’s media and social platforms, raising broader questions about privacy, reputational harm, and the intersection of personal disputes with public office.
As the matter now moves through the courts, legal observers say the case will test the evidentiary threshold for claims of marital interference under Liberian law, while also determining whether the allegations meet the standard for substantial monetary damages.
The court has yet to rule on preliminary motions, and no trial date has been formally announced.
