Marc Elliot’s Defamation Lawsuit Against STARZ
Marc Elliot, a loyalist of NXIVM who claims his Tourette’s Syndrome disappeared due to the teachings of Keith Alan Raniere, filed a $12 million defamation lawsuit against STARZ in 2021. The lawsuit was related to his portrayal in the documentary series “Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult.”
Elliot’s case was dismissed based on SLAPP and the judge ordered him to pay Starz’s attorney’s fees based on the lawsuit having no merit, The STARZ film inters-spliced videos to misrepresent Elliot’s reactions to various teachings and words of Elliot’s glorious leader Keith Alan Raniere, and added an applause track after a recording of Raniere speaking to misrepresent the enthusiasm of his audience.
The result though falsely presented tended to show a somewhat truthful view of Elliot as a follower more than usually dedicated to a man that most of the rational world would find deplorable, despicable, criminal and perverted, not to mention entirely preposterously unappealing.
In short, STARZ made Elliot look the fool. He sued and it cost him.
New Lawsuit Against HBO for The Vow
Then in 2022, he sued HBO for its show The Vow’s portrayal of him in St. Louis.
HBO’s St. Louis law firm, Lewis Rice, with 192 lawyers, got the case transferred to Manhattan federal court, where HBO and its New York lawyers, the 600-lawyer firm of Ballard Spahr, will seek to get the case dismissed and probably seek the judge to order Elliot to pay HBO’s legal fees.
Elliot has no attorney and represents himself pro se.
Elliot’s Legal Strategy: A Familiar Influence?
Although some believe Elliot stands little chance against nearly 800 lawyers from two firms, others know better.
Those in the know understand Elliot is not alone. The same genius who helped Elliot overcome his Tourette’s Syndrome is guiding him in his legal strategy.
Keith Alan Raniere, supported by his enabler Clare Bronfman, has a reputation for using the legal system to make his points in a dramatic and punishing way. To date the former Vanguard of NXIVM has lost nearly every case he has been involved in, including his own. Currently, Raniere is serving a 120-year sentence.
Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker is designated to handle the HBO matter.
Isabella Constantino appears on the poster of My Tourette’s.
The Phone Call at the Center of the Lawsuit
Elliot filed a lawsuit in St. Louis City Circuit Court, claiming the filmmakers recorded a phone call he made without his consent. Over the course of two seasons, The Vow narrated the story of NXIVM, its leader Raniere, and his numerous former followers, who now view him as a royal turd.
Elliot plays a significant role in the third episode of The Vow’s second season, which centers on NXIVM’s alleged treatment of Tourette’s syndrome. Elliot asserts that NXIVM’s talk therapy and self-help courses helped him manage the condition.
The phone call central to his lawsuit took place between Elliot and Isabella Constantino. Isabella was upset when she learned from the Frank Report that Raniere’s female followers were branded with his initials. The docuseries depicts Elliot attempting to persuade her to rethink her decision to leave the group.
Elliot’s lawsuit alleges HBO did not have the legal right to broadcast that call.
He argues the producers “knew Plaintiff did not consent to the recording and did not waive any right to privacy in his voice, name and identification for the commercial use of the recording either by video or audio production.”
The transfer to federal court in Manhattan does not bode well for Elliot, regardless of the merits of the case.
