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- Jan 1, 2025
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Case Filing
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF REDMONT
CIVIL ACTION
Vernicia (Represented by Dragon Law Firm)
Plaintiff
v.
OmegaBiebel
Defendant
COMPLAINT
The Plaintiff complains against the Defendant as follows:
On January 11th, 2025, Vernicia posted an advertisement using in-game chat that offered her services in helping new players with housing, work, and other needs for free. OmegaBiebel responded to the offer by extensively belittling Vernicia in public, unprompted. OmegaBiebel mocked Vernicia relentlessly, claiming that she was untrustworthy, mocking her for how she conducts business, and even using her nationality against her. These actions not only constituted outrageous conduct that resulted in public humiliation for Vernicia, but also served a malicious purpose to decrease her good reputation in Redmont and discourage players from coming to her for help. The comments made by the defendant are in clear violation of the No More Defamation Act, and they must not go unpunished or uncompensated for.
I. PARTIES
1. Vernicia (Plaintiff)
2. OmegaBiebel (Defendant)
II. FACTS
1. On the 11th of January, 2025, Vernicia posted an in-game advertisement encouraging new players to message her for help finding housing, work, and anything else they might need. (P-001)
2. In response to another player's accusation against Vernicia, OmegaBiebel added that prospective players receiving help from Vernicia would have to "become a russian", accusing Vernicia of somehow being dangerous or untrustworthy due to her real-life nationality. (P-001)
3. It goes without saying that there are no nationality-related strings attached to Vernicia's services to new players.
4. OmegaBiebel went on to add, "before u know it ur banned from her stores", further attempting to belittle and defame Vernicia for the way in which she conducts business. (P-002)
5. It is well within the plaintiff's rights to choose who gets access to her private property, and to moderate her businesses as she pleases.
III. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
1. The comments and accusations made by the defendant clearly constitute defamation, and more specifically, slander.
- The No More Defamation act defines defamation as:
"a false statement and/or communication that injures a third party's reputation. The tort of defamation includes both libel and slander." - The same act defines slander as:
"A false statement, usually made through either discord or in-game messages, which defames another person’s reputation, business, profession, or organization." - In contrast to the Defamation Act 2020 (now rescinded), which stated that "damages from slander and libel are not presumed and must be proven in a court of law," no such provision exists in the presently effective NMDA. Thus, through meaningful variation, it can be deduced that tangible damages needn't be proven in order for an act to meet the definitions of defamation and slander under current law.
- The comments made by the defendant clearly meet all of the requirements to be considered slander: they were false, made through in-game messages, and served a self-evident and malicious purpose to harm Vernicia's reputation and discourage new players from using her services.
- In particular, the defendant’s ludicrous claim that prospective players who receive help from the plaintiff must somehow “become a [R]ussian” constitutes a transparent attempt to defame Vernicia’s reputation on the basis of her country of origin, as well as being a self-evidently false accusation.
- Humiliation is outlined as a catalyst for consequential damages in §7.a.II of the Legal Damages Act, as follows:
"Situations in which a person has been disgraced, belittled or made to look foolish. Humiliation damages may be proven by witness testimony and reasonable person tests, or any other mechanism the presiding Judge considers persuasive." - It should be clear that, placed in the plaintiff's situation, any reasonable person would feel both disgraced and belittled. The defendant made a series of untrue accusations and personal attacks against the defendant, some of which were directed at her personal nationality, in public for all to see. The plaintiff's actions using both in-game chat and the legal system to defend her honor and pursue remedies clearly showcase the humiliating nature of the baseless accusations and damning insults used by the defendant.
- In private messages with the plaintiff, the defendant did not apologize when questioned, but rather doubled down, making it clear that his intent was to make the plaintiff the butt of a joke. The defendant’s cruel attempt at humor and claim that the plaintiff “can’t take [a joke]” do not absolve him of responsibility for the humiliating effects of his actions.
- The plaintiff is willing and able to testify to the humiliation that she was forced to endure due to the defendant's actions.
3. Finally, Dragon Law Firm requests 30% of the value of the case in legal fees, as permitted by §9.c of the Legal Damages Act, in order to fairly compensate for the intensive legal work conducted on behalf of the plaintiff.
IV. PRAYER FOR RELIEF
The Plaintiff seeks the following from the Defendant:
1. $10,000 in punitive damages for the slanderous accusations that were brought against the plaintiff.
2. $25,000 in consequential damages for humiliation due to the disgraceful, belittling, and false comments made by the defendant.
3. $10,500 in legal fees, equal to 30% of the value of the case.
EVIDENCE:
By making this submission, I agree I understand the penalties of lying in court and the fact that I am subject to perjury should I knowingly make a false statement in court.
DATED: This 19th day of January, 2025