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A choose has dismissed a defamation lawsuit introduced ahead by an LA bachelor in opposition to greater than 50 ladies after he found they had been discussing him in a Fb group referred to as ‘Are we relationship the identical man?’.
Dozens of girls referred to as Stewart Lucas Murray, from Santa Monica, a ‘unhealthy date’ earlier than he took the transfer to sue following claims he was labeled a assassin and accused of getting STIs on the discussion board.
However a choose in downtown Los Angeles dominated in favor of defendant Vanessa Valdez.
The ladies argued that they had carried out nothing flawed by posting their private opinions in a personal on-line group on social media.
The choose discovered no proof of conspiracy on the ladies’s half and granted an Anti-SLAPP movement – which protects those that communicate out on issues of public curiosity in opposition to abusive lawsuits made to silence them.
Stewart Lucas Murray, from Santa Monica, tried to sue dozens of girls who he claimed defamed him via Fb posts. His lawsuit has now been dismissed by an LA choose
The lawsuit stems from the social media group, which at present has greater than 52,500 members, the place daters challenge warnings about doubtlessly dangerous or deceitful males
‘Simply feels actually good to be dismissed from all counts, it wasn’t simply the 2 counts of defamation, however all 11 counts be filed in opposition to me,’ Valdes stated throughout a press convention Monday.
‘All of us have varied Anti-SLAPP hearings within the weeks to come back and clearly we hope that with Vanessa’s ruling it form of units the precedent for the next hearings,’ stated one other defendant, Olivia Berger.
The choose additionally reportedly discovered that primarily based on the proof offered, the courtroom didn’t see any chance of Murray profitable in opposition to the defendants on any declare he made.
It comes after the Yale educated scholar final month tried to sue dozens of potential suitors after claiming he was subjected to false and defamatory posts and feedback being made about him within the group.
He deliberate to sue on a spate of prices together with defamation, sex-based discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional misery, libel and invasion of privateness – amongst others.
The lawsuit stemmed from the personal Los-Angeles particular social media group, which has over 52,500 members.
It’s labeled as a spot the place daters can spotlight any warnings about doubtlessly dangerous and deceitful males.
Murray had alleged that the ladies posted quite a lot of false statements about him together with claims he had lied about being an legal professional, had tried to swindle cash from them, and had sexually-transmitted ailments.
He additionally highlighted that the submit made extra severe claims, together with that he was dealing with a number of home violence prices in addition to being suspected of homicide and concerned in a murder case.
Murray has denied all claims, alleging he solely remembers assembly one of many ladies ‘for lower than quarter-hour’.
Murray began a GoFundMe web page the place he claimed he had solely briefly met one of many ladies, and stated: ‘After I noticed them on TV to carry a press convention about me, it was the primary time I used to be seeing most of their faces’
However in a submit to GoFundMe final month, Murray alleged he had matched with one lady on a relationship app earlier than giving her his telephone quantity after which rapidly blocking her as he turned suspicious of her photographs.
‘As a substitute of going her separate means, she posted about me in just a few of those Fb teams, obsessively digging for data, bumping her personal unique submit about me a number of occasions in a yr, and later calling me a “viral” topic,’ he stated.
He went on to assert that he had by no means met the lady in actual life and the ‘first time I ever actually noticed her face was on TV when she took half in a press launch about me’.
Based on the bachelor, a minimum of 238 Fb accounts posted his photos into the group, tracked his location, and fabricated tales about them assembly.
‘Let me reiterate: I’ve by no means met most of them in my life. I’ve barely talked to, if ever, any of them. I solely recall assembly one in every of them and her for lower than quarter-hour earlier than I left,’ Murray added.
‘Any minimal interplay with them was abruptly lower off by my swift rejection. After I noticed them on TV to carry a press convention about me, it was the primary time I used to be seeing most of their faces’.
The livid bachelor accused a number of ladies of ‘hate-filled’ and ‘relentless cyberbullying’ earlier than his case got here crashing down.
He has since raised over $5,450 of his $60,000 objective via his private fundraiser, which he claims will go in the direction of ‘the huge quantity of authorized charges, injury professional, deposition bills, analysis, and time to take care of an awesome quantity of labor in opposition to a number of defendants’.
One of many defendants, Valdes, revealed that she had related with Murray on Hinge.
She informed KTLA reporters final month: ‘Proper out of the gate, [he] gave me his telephone quantity and stated, “Let’s grasp.”
‘I commented with one message saying “daring transfer” with a contented face after which a barrage of harassing messages got here afterward. So I instantly blocked him and reported him.’
The choose dominated in favor of defendant Vanessa Valdes, who revealed that she had related with the bachelor on Hinge
Vanessa claimed that it was not till years later that she commented on a submit about her change with Murray.
The lawsuit claimed Murray had constantly tried to hitch the group to defend himself, however was denied entry.
The Are We Courting The Identical Man? Fb web page has a prolonged description which reads: ‘This group is a spot for ladies to guard, assist, and empower different ladies.
‘A spot the place lady can communicate freely, overtly, and truthfully with out the worry of harassment or intimidation. There are 4 principal makes use of of this web page.
‘It may be used as a spot the place ladies can warn different ladies about liars, cheaters, abusers, or anybody who displays any kind of poisonous or harmful habits.
‘It may be used to verify to see if anybody has posted any warnings about somebody that you just’re contemplating relationship.
‘It may be used to inquire about somebody you are relationship or might doubtlessly date to see if anybody has had any experiences with that individual.
‘This can be a secure area the place ladies can ask for recommendation and relationship assist, in addition to submit anything relationship associated that may assist convey us collectively, hold us secure, or assist us assist one another.’
