Judge Tosses Libel Suit Filed By Author Matt Hayward

A judge has thrown out a $2.5 Million libel suit filed by horror novelist Matt Hayward against Cassie Daley, a reviewer who tweeted that he had sexually harassed several women. 

Hayward failed to prove that Daley harbored actual malice against him, a libel standard, wrote Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile, according to City News Service. 

In dismissing the case on free speech grounds, Brazile wrote that Hayward failed to prove that Daley “spoke with actual malice—that she knew it was false that (Hayward) harassed 20-plus people or that she said such with a reckless disregard of the truth,” City News Service reports.  

Hayward’s complaint states, “This matter concerns the egregious and completely false defamation of a respected and well-regarded author." 

However, Daley claimed, “Mr. Hayward would send me creepy, sexual messages—and that he couldn’t help it because I was just incredibly hot," City News Service continues. 

Hayward, who lives in Ireland, asserted that he suffered harm to his reputation and loss of opportunities due to the allegedly false statements. 

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