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Home > Vision Media TV Group v. Richard

Vision Media TV Group v. Richard [1]

Submitted by DMLP Staff on Mon, 08/18/2008 - 16:56

Summary

Threat Type: 

Lawsuit

Date: 

07/18/2008

Status: 

Concluded

Disposition: 

Dismissed (total)

Location: 

Florida

Verdict or Settlement Amount: 

N/A

Legal Claims: 

Defamation
Tortious Interference
Trade Libel
Production company Vision Media TV (VMT) sued blogger Leslie Richard after she accused the company of scamming small businesses in her blog and on an Internet forum. VMT's complaint asked for $20 million in damages, alleging claims of defamation, tortious interference... read full description
Parties

Party Receiving Legal Threat: 

Leslie Richard, personally and d/b/a TheOkoBox.com

Type of Party: 

Organization

Type of Party: 

Individual

Location of Party: 

  • Florida

Location of Party: 

  • North Carolina

Legal Counsel: 

Lee E. Levinson, Jr.

Legal Counsel: 

Judith Mary Mercier; Pro se
Description

Production company Vision Media TV (VMT) sued blogger Leslie Richard after she accused the company of scamming small businesses in her blog and on an Internet forum. VMT's complaint asked for $20 million in damages, alleging claims of defamation, tortious interference with business relationships, and trade libel.

Richard, owner of "green" fashion company The Oko Box, criticized VMT in the The Oko Box blog [2] and Co-OP America's [3] Green Business Network Lounge. According to the complaint, Richard's posts said that VMT representatives had offered to interview her for an educational television program on eco-fashion. Richard said the representatives claimed the program was part of an evironmental series featuring former "20/20" anchor Hugh Downs. After further discussions, VMT asked Richard to pay VMT $22,900 in production costs and $3,000 for airfare in order to appear on the program. Richard then allegedly wrote postings on her blog and Co-Op America calling VMT a scam and accusing it of taking advantage of small businesses. Richard also reported VMT to the Better Business Bureau.

VMT filed suit in a Florida federal court in July 2008. Richard, a North Carolina citizen, moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of personal jurisdiction. The motion also sought, in the alternative, to transfer the case to federal court in North Carolina. Richard argued that the Florida court's exercise of jurisdiction over her would violate standards of "fair play and substantial justice" because Richard could not afford to appear in a Florida court and could not travel in any case because of a medical condition. Richard filed an affadavit from her doctor stating that she was medically unfit to travel.

On October 09, 2008, VMT voluntarily dismissed the complaint with prejudice. In return, Richard removed the posts regarding VMT from her blog.

Related Links: 

  • The Oko Box blog: Scam Taking Advantage of Green Business [4] (disputed post, including messages sent by VMT to Richard) (now defunct)
  • The Oko Box blog: Vision Media Sues The Oko Box For $20 Million Dollars [5] (now defunct)
  • Mountain Xpress: Local business owner sued for $20 million over blog post [6]
  • BlogHer: Blogger sued for $20 million [7]
Details

Web Site(s) Involved: 

The Oko Box blog [2]

Co-Op America [3] (Green Business Network Lounge forum is only accessible to members)

[2]

Content Type: 

  • Text

Publication Medium: 

Blog
Forum

Subject Area: 

  • Defamation
  • Personal Jurisdiction
  • Trade Libel
  • Business Torts
Court Information & Documents

Jurisdiction: 

  • Florida

Source of Law: 

  • Florida

Court Name: 

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Court Type: 

Federal

Case Number: 

08-CV-80797

Relevant Documents: 

PDF icon 2008-07-18-VMT v. Richard Complaint.pdf [8]
PDF icon 2008-07-18-VMT v. Richard Petition for Temporary Injunction.pdf [9]
PDF icon 2008-08-12-Richard's Motion to Dismiss or Transfer.pdf [10]
PDF icon 2008-08-12-Richard's Memo in Support of Motion to Dismiss or Transfer.pdf [11]
PDF icon 2008-08-28-VMT's Memo in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss or Transfer.pdf [12]
PDF icon 2008-09-02-VMT's Affadavit Opposing Motion to Dismiss or Transfer.pdf [13]
PDF icon 2008-10-10-VMT v. Richard Order Dismissing Complaint With Prejudice.pdf [14]
CMLP Information (Private)

Priority: 

1-High

Threat Source: 

Google News

DMLP Logo


Source URL (modified on 08/20/2014 - 11:07pm): https://www.dmlp.org/threats/vision-media-tv-group-v-richard

Links
[1] https://www.dmlp.org/threats/vision-media-tv-group-v-richard
[2] http://oko-organic-clothing.blogspot.com/
[3] http://www.coopamerica.org/
[4] http://oko-organic-clothing.blogspot.com/2008/02/scam-taking-advantage-of-green.html
[5] http://oko-organic-clothing.blogspot.com/2008/07/vision-media-sues-oko-box-for-5-million.html
[6] http://www.mountainx.com/news/2008/local_business_owner_sued_for_20_million_over_blog_post
[7] http://www.blogher.com/blogger-sued-20-million
[8] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-07-18-VMT%20v.%20Richard%20Complaint.pdf
[9] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-07-18-VMT%20v.%20Richard%20Petition%20for%20Temporary%20Injunction.pdf
[10] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-08-12-Richard%27s%20Motion%20to%20Dismiss%20or%20Transfer.pdf
[11] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-08-12-Richard%27s%20Memo%20in%20Support%20of%20Motion%20to%20Dismiss%20or%20Transfer.pdf
[12] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-08-28-VMT%27s%20Memo%20in%20Opposition%20to%20Motion%20to%20Dismiss%20or%20Transfer.pdf
[13] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-09-02-VMT%27s%20Affadavit%20Opposing%20Motion%20to%20Dismiss%20or%20Transfer.pdf
[14] https://www.dmlp.org/sites/dmlp.org/files/sites/citmedialaw.org/files/2008-10-10-VMT%20v.%20Richard%20Order%20Dismissing%20Complaint%20With%20Prejudice.pdf