Rhonda Sweat, a seasoned real estate professional, has taken legal action against Teresa Quinonez, accusing her of defamation through social media. On February 28, 2025, Sweat filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Quinonez. The lawsuit stems from a series of alleged defamatory posts made by Quinonez on social media platforms that have reportedly damaged Sweat's reputation and business.
The conflict between Rhonda Sweat and Teresa Quinonez began after they entered into joint venture agreements for real estate projects in 2023. Despite unforeseen setbacks due to a cyberattack on Sweat's operations, she offered to return Quinonez's investment even though it was not legally required. However, instead of accepting this resolution, Quinonez allegedly launched a smear campaign against Sweat on social media. According to the complaint, Quinonez falsely labeled Sweat as a "thief" and "scammer," causing significant harm to her reputation and emotional distress. "The Defendant’s actions were not only false and defamatory but also calculated to inflict maximum harm," states the complaint.
Sweat claims that these defamatory statements were made with malice and reckless disregard for the truth. She asserts that Quinonez’s actions have resulted in severe damage to her personal and professional reputation within the real estate community. The complaint highlights specific instances where Quinonez allegedly posted damaging content about Sweat on Facebook, tagging other investors and individuals believed to be associated with prior cyberattacks against Sweat's business. These posts reportedly portrayed Sweat as dishonest and untrustworthy, leading to potential blacklisting from real estate investment opportunities.
In response to these allegations, Rhonda Sweat is seeking judgment for damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of interest and legal fees. She is pursuing claims for defamation by implication, defamation per se, and tortious interference with business relationships. Additionally, she seeks injunctive relief to prevent further defamatory conduct by Quinonez and reserves the right to seek punitive damages due to the malicious nature of the accusations.
Representing Rhonda Sweat are attorneys Cody German and Erika Agosto from Cole, Scott & Kissane P.A., based in Miami, Florida. The Case ID is: 502025CA001882XXXAMB Div: AJ.