From the criticism filed Thursday Avodah Farms v. O’Hara-Rusckowski (D. Colo.):
Avodah was based in February 2020. It really works to revive and reintegrate feminine intercourse trafficking survivors (“survivors”) by way of complete, Christ-centered care offered by Catholic non secular sisters and a religion neighborhood. Avodah conducts its nonprofit missionary work in the USA.
Through the related instances giving rise to this motion, Rusckowski was a member of the Board of Councilors of the American Affiliation of Malta, a delegate and particular advisor on trafficking in individuals to the Ambassador for the Order of Malta to the United Nations.
In 2021, Rusckowski linked Avodah and Fitzpatrick to the Oblates, a non secular order in search of to promote sure actual property to Avodah at 27 Kirk Road, Lowell, Massachusetts (the “Lowell Residence”). The Lowell Residence was supposed for use as protected housing for survivors, their youngsters, and spiritual sisters who contracted with Avodah to take care of the survivors.
Regardless of having donated vital quantities of cash to Avodah for the precise function of supporting Avodah’s mission, Defendants possessed no authorized rights or possession pursuits that might allow them to train management or decision-making authority over the event of the Lowell Residence. However, by way of their actions, phrases, and conduct, Defendants undertook substantial efforts to illegally drive Plaintiffs to desert the undertaking in order that Defendants may implement their new imaginative and prescient.
Rusckowski and the Malta defendants launched a smear marketing campaign in opposition to the plaintiffs.
Rusckowski used her place of affect throughout the Catholic neighborhood to knowingly make false and defamatory statements to 3rd events that Avodah was “stealing” and “embezzling” donor funds. Rusckowski additional acknowledged to 3rd events that Avodah was “labor trafficking” non secular sisters. The statements had been false and/or made with reckless disregard for his or her falsity, with the intent that they might be acted upon, relied on, and in any other case disseminated.
Within the winter of 2023, defendants made oral and/or written statements to representatives of the Archdiocese of Denver that Avodah had “embezzled” cash from donors and traders and “labor trafficked” sisters. On the time these statements had been made, Defendants knew the statements had been false and interpreted them with reckless disregard for his or her falsity with the intent that they might be acted upon, relied on, and in any other case could be distributed.
Defendants’ actions and statements hindered Avodah’s nonprofit work by inflicting the Archdiocese of Denver to reject Avodah as a Catholic group [and also in other ways discussed in the Complaint -EV]inflicting plaintiffs to undergo vital and critical accidents, damages and losses.
In February 2023, Rusckowski relayed the above defamatory statements to Kristen Meyer, an influential Catholic chief, who then despatched written correspondence to different third events stating: “If Keenan [Fitzpatrick] has approached you or the stewards for cash, or if he’s an intruder in any approach, it’s best to maintain him distant. He has defrauded our good mates of 500,000 euros and acts sarcastically and sadly in non secular sisters. I might like to speak about it additional.’ The statements had been false and/or made with reckless disregard for his or her falsity. Rusckowski knew the statements had been false when she made them to Ms. Meyer.
On or about February 19, 2023, Rusckowski, together with Fitzpatrick, despatched a gaggle textual content to a community of potential Avodah donors, stating that Rusckowski and Malta had severed ties with Avodah and additional stating: “[u]Sadly, the perpetrator continues to be on our “Mates of Deb” listing – [Fitzpatrick] is NOT a good friend – extra demon than good friend!! I’ll make one other listing of solely REAL Mates of Deb!” The assertion that Fitzpatrick was a demon was false and made with reckless disregard for its falsity, inflicting plaintiffs vital and critical accidents, damages and losses.
Within the spring of 2023, Rusckowski known as an Avodah accomplice and a distinguished third social gathering throughout the Catholic neighborhood and the nationwide anti-trafficking area and acknowledged: “Avodah and Fitzpatrick embezzled funds and had been non secular sisters who trafficked labor that Avodah employed to take care of the victims intercourse trafficking”. The statements had been false and/or made with reckless disregard for his or her falsity. On the time the statements had been made, Rusckowski knew the statements had been false.
I can not say something in regards to the veracity of those allegations, and due to this fact whether or not a defamation case can proceed for many of them. However I am fairly positive the declare {that a} secular court docket will not determine whether or not “[t]The assertion that Fitzpatrick was a demon was false.”
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