A Los Angeles judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Stewart Lucas Murrey against Vanessa Valdes, one of over 50 women he sued for defamation. The case emerged from numerous complaints in a private online forum titled “Are We Dating The Same Guy?” where women exchanged stories about their experiences with Murrey, labeling him a “bad date.”
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As previously reported, in 2021, Olivia Berger went on a date with Murrey, whom she met online. Later, she saw a Facebook post featuring Murrey’s photographs, which urged members to share their interactions with him. Berger wrote about her experience, stating that she had never been on a date like that. Vanessa Valdes also participated in the online discussion and shared her disturbing interactions with Murrey. After encountering him on a dating app, Valdes experienced what she described as harassment, marked by unsettling messages from Murrey. Valdes posted about these exchanges online to warn others about Murrey’s alleged behavior. Murray has denied the allegations that he was involved in his ex-wife’s murder and transmitting sexually transmitted diseases. However, the women who posted the allegations have cited specific incidents.
According to FOX 11, the court ruled in favor of Valdes, finding insufficient evidence to support Murrey’s claims of conspiracy and defamation within the group. This decision came after an anti-SLAPP motion was granted, highlighting the court’s stance against the misuse of legal proceedings to suppress free speech. During a press conference, Valdes expressed her relief and satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “It just feels really good to be dismissed from all counts. It wasn’t just the two counts of defamation, but all 11 counts be filed against me.”
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The “Are We Dating The Same Guy?” lawsuit had previously attracted attention for its implications on free speech and the legal boundaries of sharing personal experiences online. The judge’s decision underscores the importance of Anti-SLAPP laws in protecting individuals from being legally penalized for exercising their right to communicate openly about their personal experiences.
Olivia Berger, another defendant in Murray’s series of lawsuits, commented on the hopeful precedent set by Valdez’s dismissal for upcoming anti-SLAPP hearings related to the same matter. Berger and others involved are optimistic that this initial ruling will influence future judgments in favor of the defendants.
“We have various Anti-SLAPP hearings in the weeks to come and obviously we hope that with Vanessa’s ruling it kind of sets the precedent for the following hearings,”
The legal team representing the women highlighted the significance of the judge’s findings, pointing out the court’s skepticism regarding Murray’s ability to prove his case against the defendants on any of the claims he made.