November 2nd 2024.
On the day following the Fourth of July, guests and homeowners at a luxurious dude ranch in Grand County were treated to a dance. However, things took a turn for the worse when a Denver developer, Brian Watson, filed a lawsuit against a drinkware company CEO's wife, Laura Elsaden, for defamation. Watson is seeking a whopping $100 million in damages, claiming that Elsaden made false and damaging statements about him during the dance.
According to Watson's lawsuit, Elsaden allegedly called him a "criminal" and accused him of having "relations" with "prostitutes" to other guests at the dance. These statements, Watson argues, have tarnished his reputation and made him afraid to invite friends and business associates to the ranch. Elsaden's husband, Sami Elsaden, is the CEO of Ignite USA, a company that produces travel mugs and other drinkware.
The dance took place at C Lazy U Ranch, a luxurious all-inclusive 8,500-acre dude ranch in Grand County. It offers various activities such as horseback riding, fly fishing, and snowmobiling, and has 40 homesites for sale. Watson, who first visited the ranch 17 years ago as a guest, purchased an undeveloped site for $1.25 million in 2014 and spent an additional $6 million building a home. He pays $31,000 annually in HOA dues and member assessments.
Elsaden, who also owns a home at the ranch, has asked for the case to be dismissed, claiming that Watson is a "notorious figure" known for his "self-promotion" and his involvement in "criminal schemes." She also notes that Watson has a history of blaming others for his misfortunes and has filed multiple lawsuits in recent months. In September, he sued a former employee for making false accusations about his business dealings with Amazon, and earlier this month, he sued a company he partnered with on a project.
Elsaden's motion to dismiss also argues that Watson is a public figure, which would require him to prove "actual malice" in order to win the defamation case. This means that he would have to show that Elsaden knew her statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for their truth. Elsaden, on the other hand, argues that there is no evidence of this and questions how damaging her statements could be given the allegations made against Watson by Amazon and others.
In addition, Elsaden has indicated that she plans to file a counterclaim against Watson for assault in connection with an incident that occurred near the ranch's horse barn on July 19. She claims that Watson startled her and made comments that made her fear for her safety, citing his past behavior as a reason for her fear. However, this counterclaim has not yet been filed.
It's clear that this legal battle between Watson and Elsaden is far from over. However, it serves as a reminder of the importance of being mindful of our words and the potential consequences they may have. As the saying goes, "think before you speak."
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
