Brandon Smith, a business owner from Media, Pennsylvania, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Lauren Foerst in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County. The complaint was lodged on April 4, 2024, alleging that Foerst made false and damaging statements about him online. Smith claims these statements have caused significant harm to his personal and professional reputation.
According to the details of the case, Brandon Smith operates a landscaping business called "12 Kids and I Landscaping." On March 23rd, 2024, Lauren Foerst allegedly posted defamatory content on the internet accusing Smith of committing rape. This accusation is said to be entirely false and made with malicious intent. Smith argues that Foerst's statements were public and unprivileged, intended to harm his reputation. As a result of these allegations, Smith claims he has suffered severe emotional distress and financial losses due to lost clients and business opportunities.
The complaint further outlines that Smith has incurred legal fees while addressing the damage caused by these statements. He is seeking $50,000 in damages for legal costs, emotional trauma, reputational harm, and loss of customers. In addition to financial compensation, Smith seeks relief from the court to prevent further defamatory actions by Foerst.
During court proceedings before Judge Richard H. Lowe on April 4th, 2024, it was revealed that this incident stemmed from a custody dispute between Smith and Foerst. The alleged defamatory post was made after a custody hearing where Officer McNulty awarded Smith visitation rights with his son. Despite Foerst's dissatisfaction with the ruling leading her to make such posts online about her former lawyer and accusations against Smith, she removed them shortly after posting.
Smith presented evidence including transcripts from previous court dates where Foerst admitted to making these posts. However, during cross-examination by Francis Urso representing Foerst’s interests in court proceedings on April 4th; it became apparent there were no physical threats or contact involved—only online postings which had since been taken down.
The attorneys involved in this case include Brandon P. Smith representing himself pro se while Francis Urso represents Lauren Foerst’s defense team alongside Judge Richard H Lowe presiding over courtroom proceedings identified under Case ID CV-24-080561.