JACKSONVILLE – A Florida-based online firearms retailer is facing a defamation lawsuit claiming it impersonated a customer and wrote a fraudulent review of a competing business to damage its reputation.
MCM Retail Group doing business as cashforarms.com filed a lawsuit in federal court against D4 Media Corp. doing business as CashMyGuns and its CEO, John Daniel Dunlap IV, citing allegations of defamation and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
According to court documents, Cash for Arms (CFA) and Cash My Guns (CMG) are competing online businesses that buy pre-owned firearms from customers across the United States.
CFA alleges that on September 12, 2023, the business received a one-star review from "John D" through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) accusing Cash for Arms of being unresponsive to customers, questioning the legality of the business and warning other potential customers against dealing with CFA.
After an investigation, the plaintiff says it determined the review was fraudulent and contacted the BBB. After further investigation, it says it determined the fake review had come from the defendants as part of a plot to damage CFA's reputation and business and reported their findings to the BBB. The BBB analyzed the evidence and removed the fraudulent review from their website, but not before it was viewed by various individuals.
The plaintiff is demanding a trial jury to seek a judgment for damages plus interest, attorney fees, court costs and other relief. It is being represented by Lee D. Wedekind II, of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Jacksonville.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division case number 3:23-cv-01212