The latest twist in the battle between UTA and former MediaLink chairman-CEO Michael Kassan is a defamation lawsuit filed by Kassan against UTA attorney Bryan Freedman.
Kassan sued Freedman for slander and defamation stemming from an announcement the lawyer made earlier this week to Deadline, which is a sister publication of Selection under Penske Media Corp. Kassan and UTA split earlier this month amid a flurry of lawsuits and arbitration proceedings and heated accusations from both sides. Kassan’s lawsuit against Freedman is based on the lawyer’s claim to Deadline that “Michael Kassan is a pathological liar,” which was published on March 25.
“The criticism represents Michael Kassan’s intention to hold Mr. Freedman accountable for his strategically malicious and defamatory remark,” Kassan’s attorney, Sanford Michelman, said in a statement. “Making an announcement similar to what he made illustrates the fact that all Mr. Freedman and UTA are doing is trying to prevent Mr. Kassan from competing by damaging him in the press, as alleged in Mr. Kassan’s demand.
In its claims against Kassan, UTA asserted that the former trade-promoting government was profligate in its spending and misused firm funds for its private accounts. Kassan accused UTA of violating agreements established when the technology company acquired MediaLink for $125 million in late 2021. Kassan’s lawsuit against Freedman seeks $125 million in damages.
“This statement was made as if conveying a truth,” the swimsuit states. “This statement by Freedman was malicious and intentional. Said another way, non-compete for defamation. Freedman didn’t just say this to a few people, he said it to multiple people via the Deadline article so he could do the most damage. Not only is Freedman a classy lawyer and knew what he was doing was illegal, but he has also participated in litigation in the past and understands what this strategy can do to a person’s reputation. Freedman broke the law by defaming Kassan and, as agent for his buyers, they did so too.”
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