In a dramatic turn of events, a Florida-based pastor and his ministry have filed a defamation lawsuit against unidentified individuals over allegations of sexual misconduct. The plaintiffs, Michael Schadt and S.O.S. Ministries, Inc., initiated the legal action on January 6, 2025, in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County, Florida. They are suing unknown defendants who allegedly published false statements accusing Schadt of incestuous sexual abuse.
Michael Schadt, a Christian pastor and founder of S.O.S. Ministries—a nonprofit organization known for its humanitarian work across the globe—claims that these defamatory articles have caused significant harm to his personal and professional reputation. According to the complaint, the defamatory content was first published online on November 3, 2023, on websites such as Gripeo.com and IntelligenceLine.com. These articles falsely accused Schadt of sexually abusing his half-sister during their childhood.
The complaint details how these baseless accusations have been disseminated widely online, causing irreparable damage to both Schadt's reputation and that of S.O.S. Ministries. "These statements are demonstrably false," asserts the complaint, supported by an affidavit from Elizabeth St. Armand, Schadt's actual half-sister, who refutes any claims of abuse.
Schadt and S.O.S. Ministries argue that the defendants knew these statements were false but proceeded with publication anyway, causing severe reputational damage and financial loss due to decreased donations for their charitable work. The plaintiffs are seeking damages exceeding $50,000 along with attorneys' fees and costs. They also demand injunctive relief to prevent further dissemination of these defamatory statements.
Represented by attorneys David Matthew DePasquale, Matthew E. Linsky, and Corey P. Shill from Bleakley Bavol Denman & Grace law firm in Tampa, Florida, Schadt is fighting not only for monetary compensation but also for a court order mandating the removal of all defamatory content from public access.
This case highlights the serious implications of online defamation and its potential to devastate personal lives and nonprofit organizations alike. The presiding judge has yet to be named as proceedings continue under Case Number: 25-000057-CI.