TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A Florida media outlet faces defamation allegations from staffers who accused a state representative of sexual harassment and are unhappy with its coverage of an investigation that led to no punishment.
Nicolas Frevola and Jacob Cutbirth filed a lawsuit Feb. 16 against Jolt Media Inc., also known as Florida Jolt, and Tracy Lee Caruso in Leon County Circuit Court.
The plaintiffs have alleged that they were subjected to inappropriate behavior by Rep. Fabian Basabe during their time working for him. They claim that Basabe made inappropriate comments and advances towards them and even physically assaulted one of them at a social gathering.
“Basabe told Cutbirth that he should not marry his girlfriend/fiancée because the marriage would never last and that Cutbirth should explore his sexuality by having sex with me,” wrote Plaintiffs' attorney Marie Mattox in their July 6 complaint.
The new complaint outlines the sexual harassment allegations that were the subject of a state House of Representatives investigation and found to be "inconclusive."
Now, Frevola is suing Florida Jolt and the author of an article on it they say portrayed them as liars. The headline of the Nov. 27 piece is "FL Rep Fabian Basabe, Cleared of Sexual Harassment Charges, Ready to Rock The House."
The article, which appears to have been unpublished, called the sexual harassment claims "ludicrous" and stated Basabe "won his case and been cleared of all charges," despite the fact the civil lawsuit remains pending.
Marie Mattox and Cynthia Ann Myers represent the plaintiffs.