- Posted July 15, 2011
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Local woman sues after Facebook romance fails
LIVONIA (AP) -- They met over Mafia Wars, but now the real fighting has begun.
A suburban Detroit woman is suing a Washington state man for more than $8,000 in damages after a romance sparked over Facebook failed. Cheryl Gray, 50, of Livonia filed the civil lawsuit in May against 35-year-old Wylie Iwan of Kennewick, Wash., claiming misrepresentation, defamation of character and other charges.
Gray is seeking repayment for gifts she bought during their six-month relationship, including a digital camera and Seattle Mariners' home opener tickets. She said Iwan has repaid $300.
The single mother said they met playing Mafia Wars, and that the friendship became romantic. For months they spent as many as six hours a day communicating online.
Gray told WXYZ-TV for a recent story that she bought a plane ticket to visit him but a week before the planned trip he sent a message saying he had met someone else. She said she felt humiliated by disparaging comments he made about her on Facebook.
Iwan told the Tri-City Herald of Kennewick for a recent story that it's a "completely frivolous lawsuit."
"She's making it all out to be like I'm some kind of monster. I'm not," Iwan said. "It was an online relationship. ... I did nothing wrong."
Iwan's attorney, Julian Poota, told The Associated Press he's filed a motion to dismiss the case but declined further comment. An Aug. 1 hearing is scheduled in Livonia's district court.
Published: Fri, Jul 15, 2011
headlines Oakland County
- Meet the Judges
- Phishing and Smishing and Skimming and Shimming: Nessel encourages public to watch out for common scams during NFL Draft
- 56 years later, bias case is closed: Hamtramck completes new housing
- Attorneys to explain new U.S. DOL rules
- Michigan employers, local partners spotlight Gov. Whitmer’s budget recommendations and benefits for Going PRO Talent Fund
headlines National
- New Legalese: You may have heard a deepfake, but what about ‘Twiqbal’?
- From Intake to Outcome: An in-house lawyer’s guide to matter management solutions
- 2 BigLaw firms in merger talks that could produce 1,600-lawyer firm with top 50 revenue
- Send in the paralegals
- Lawyer reprimanded after mistakenly emailing opposing counsel with plan to avoid judge’s call
- ‘I don’t play well’ judge who threatened to track down, jail misbehaving litigant gets tossed from case