Los Angeles, CA – A Los Angeles man has filed a lawsuit against more than 50 women for allegedly posting negative messages about him on social media. Stewart Lucas Murrey is accusing the women of defamation, sex-based discrimination, intentional infliction of emotional distress, libel, invasion of privacy, and other charges. The alleged remarks were made in a private Facebook group called “Are We Dating The Same Guy?”, where members share dating advice and warn others about potentially harmful or untrustworthy men.
According to Murrey, the women posted false claims about him, including allegations of murder or involvement in a murder case, multiple domestic violence charges, attempted extortion, sexually-transmitted diseases, and lying about being an attorney. Murrey vehemently denies all the allegations, asserting that they are completely false.
One of the defendants, Olivia Berger, stated that most of the women being sued had never even met Murrey in person. She mentioned that some defendants had only made passing comments or liked posts about him. However, Berger had personally gone on a date with Murrey after matching with him on the dating app Tinder in 2021. She described the date as a typical bad experience, with Murrey expressing conspiracy theories and behaving arrogantly.
Vanessa Valdes, another defendant, connected with Murrey on the dating app Hinge. She stated that after exchanging a few messages, Murrey sent a barrage of harassing messages, leading her to block and report him. Valdes later commented on a post in the Facebook group, sharing her personal experience and views on Murrey’s behavior. As a result, she is now being sued.
Murrey claimed that he attempted to join the Facebook group to defend himself but was consistently denied entry. He asserts that the women deliberately spread misinformation about him and others, portraying themselves as victims.
During a recent court hearing, the women appeared to defend themselves. They are currently seeking legal representation and hope that the media attention surrounding their case will attract the right attorneys.
Legal analyst Alison Triessl suggested that the outcome of the case for the women will depend on various factors, such as whether the alleged defamatory statements can be proven as truth or opinion.
Valdez emphasized that the Facebook group is not about men versus women but about truth versus fiction. The group aims to provide a platform for women to share honest experiences and keep each other safe. She believes that the lawsuit is an attempt to silence them.
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident. In January, a man from Chicago filed a similar lawsuit against members of the “Are We Dating the Same Guy?” Facebook group specific to that city.