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FLORIDA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Film director alleges false online statements ruined his reputation

Lawsuits
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ORLANDO — A film director is suing a couple, alleging defamation.

James Michael Roddy filed a complaint Sept. 4 in Orange County Circuit Court against Paul Castaneda and Leesa Castaneda, alleging the defendants posted false statements that Roddy had raped Leesa Castaneda and that he was a rapist and sexual predator.

According to the complaint, on numerous occasion, Roddy has received false statements through social media that he had raped Leesa Castaneda. Roddy says the defendants began a public smear campaign against him that defined him as "a person who has committed a sexually violent offense and especially one who is likely to commit more sexual offenses”. 

As a direct and proximate result, Roddy says he suffered great emotional distress and eventually lost his job as a show director for Disney. 

The plaintiff alleges the Castanedas made multiple statements online that falsely peg him as dangerous and say that he destroys women’s careers through sexual predatory behavior.

Roddy seeks trial by jury compensatory, general and special damages that exceed $15,000, as well as pre-judgment interest, costs and all other equitable relief. He is represented by attorney Cynthia Conlin of Cynthia Conlin & Associates in Orlando.

Orange County Circuit Court case number 18CA009553

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