Miami Pharma Company Accused of Price Gouging Sues Online Critics for Defamation

[TexasTowelie]

A Cat 5 PR shitstorm hit Miami's Tri-Source Pharma late last year after the Wall Street Journal published a story showing the company had raised the price of a cancer drug more than 1,400 percent. Some internet commenters were quick to compare Tri-Source CEO Robert DiCrisci to Martin Shkreli, the now-convicted "pharma bro" who in 2015 jacked up the price of Daraprim, a drug used by HIV patients. One particularly angry Twitter user went as far as to call DiCrisci "the human equivalent of a loaded cat litter box."

Now the Miami pharmaceutical startup has filed a defamation lawsuit against a handful of those anonymous online critics. The company claims the comments were defamatory and ultimately hurt its bottom line.

"As a result of [the] libelous statements, Tri-Source has suffered damages, reputational and otherwise, in an amount to be determined at trial," alleges the lawsuit, filed February 5 in Miami-Dade circuit court.

The complaint comes as DiCrisci faces a legal case accusing him of sexual harassment and mismanagement of company funds. In September, two former business partners, Steven Schafer and Christopher Yankana, sued DiCrisci, who they say gave a $73,000 raise to his assistant in exchange for sexual favors and expensed more than $15,000 at strip clubs. (DiCrisci has denied any impropriety; the case is pending in Miami-Dade civil court.)

Read more: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miamis-tri-source-pharma-files-defamation-lawsuit-against-online-critics-10131344

[TlalocW]

1. So, all the "cat box" commentator has to do

Is say, "A loaded cat litter box is a good thing as it shows your cat's digestive tract is healthy and functioning."

TlalocW