The newest twist within the battle between UTA and former MediaLink chairman-CEO Michael Kassan is a defamation lawsuit filed by Kassan towards UTA lawyer Bryan Freedman.

Kassan has Freedman for slander and libel stemming from an announcement that the lawyer made earlier this week to Deadline, which is a sibling publication to Selection below Penske Media Corp. Kassan and UTA parted methods earlier this month amid a flurry of litigation and arbitration filings and heated accusations from either side. Kassan’s swimsuit towards Freedman facilities on the lawyer’s assertion to Deadline that “Michael Kassan is a pathological liar,” which was revealed March 25.

“The criticism represents Michael Kassan’s intention to carry Mr. Freedman liable for his strategically malicious and defamatory remark,” stated Kassan lawyer Sanford Michelman in an announcement. “To render an announcement similar to he did, illustrates the truth that all Mr Freedman and UTA are doing try to dam Mr. Kassan from competing by hurting him within the press as alleged in Mr. Kassan’s demand to arbitrate.”

In its claims towards Kassan, UTA has asserted that the longtime promoting trade government was profligate in his spending and misused firm funds for his private bills. Kassan has accused UTA of violating agreements put in place when the expertise company acquired MediaLink for $125 million in late 2021. Kassan’s swimsuit towards Freedman seeks $125 million in damages.

“This assertion was made as if it was relaying a truth,” the swimsuit states. “This assertion by Freedman was malicious and intentional. Said one other means, a non-compete by defamation. Freedman didn’t simply say this to a couple individuals, he stated it to numerous individuals through Deadline article so he might inflict most injury. Freedman isn’t just a classy lawyer and knew what he was doing was unlawful however has additionally been a celebration to litigation previously and understands what this technique might do to an individual’s repute. Freedman broke the legislation by defaming Kassan, and as an agent of his purchasers, so too did they.”

Extra to come back