Amanda Ryncarz, Atty. Gloria Allred and Stacey Blitsch (KTLA-TV) |
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Two local women who took out their anger over a mutual ex-boyfriend on a dating website are celebrating after a federal judge threw out the man's defamation lawsuit against them.
Stacey Blitsch and Amanda Ryncarz were sued by their mutual ex-lover Matthew Couloute, a New York City attorney who claims the women unleashed their anger at him by posting slanderous comments on the gossip forum LiarsCheatersRUs.com
"I believe women should be able to express their feelings about the men in their lives without the fear of being sued," Ryncarz said at a press conference on Monday.
"I hope this case will be a wake-up call for people everywhere to just be honest," Blitsch added.
Blitsch denies posting anything, but Couloute claims the pair posted anonymously: "He cheated on all of his ex-girlfriends" and "Be forewarned he is scum. Run far away."
He says the statements hurt his business, and Couloute tried to sue the women for defaming him.
But a judge dismissed the case, saying the comments are opinions, not statements of fact, on a website specifically meant to air grievances with romantic partners.
Their attorney, Gloria Allred, called the decision a victory for women's rights.
"Women should have the right to warn each other about men they believe have lied and cheated on them," Allred said.
"If you're afraid that your lying and cheating might end up on the Internet, you might re-think your behavior," she said.
Couloute told KTLA he believes the judge's decision is misguided, and he is planning an appeal.
"We will not stop until laws are changed and people are prosecuted for using the internet to hurt others," Couloute said in a statement.
But Ryncarz told reporters she'd do it again if she had to.
"If I feel that I've been cheated on and I've been wronged and lied to... then, yes," she said.
Stacey Blitsch and Amanda Ryncarz were sued by their mutual ex-lover Matthew Couloute, a New York City attorney who claims the women unleashed their anger at him by posting slanderous comments on the gossip forum LiarsCheatersRUs.com
"I believe women should be able to express their feelings about the men in their lives without the fear of being sued," Ryncarz said at a press conference on Monday.
"I hope this case will be a wake-up call for people everywhere to just be honest," Blitsch added.
Blitsch denies posting anything, but Couloute claims the pair posted anonymously: "He cheated on all of his ex-girlfriends" and "Be forewarned he is scum. Run far away."
He says the statements hurt his business, and Couloute tried to sue the women for defaming him.
But a judge dismissed the case, saying the comments are opinions, not statements of fact, on a website specifically meant to air grievances with romantic partners.
Their attorney, Gloria Allred, called the decision a victory for women's rights.
"Women should have the right to warn each other about men they believe have lied and cheated on them," Allred said.
"If you're afraid that your lying and cheating might end up on the Internet, you might re-think your behavior," she said.
Couloute told KTLA he believes the judge's decision is misguided, and he is planning an appeal.
"We will not stop until laws are changed and people are prosecuted for using the internet to hurt others," Couloute said in a statement.
But Ryncarz told reporters she'd do it again if she had to.
"If I feel that I've been cheated on and I've been wronged and lied to... then, yes," she said.
