Developer Michael Stern goes to court docket to attempt to unmask an anonymous online troll.
The JDS Development Group founder filed a petition on Monday in New York State Supreme Courtroom, in search of to uncover the id of the operator of an internet site and social media accounts that he claims have waged a “coordinated and sustained nameless smear marketing campaign” in opposition to him and his agency.
Stern accuses an unidentified “John Doe” of publishing false and defamatory statements on an internet site referred to as JDSPulse.com and affiliated accounts on Fb, Instagram and X. On-line posts label Stern a “convicted felon” and accuse him of working a enterprise “constructed on deception, solid paperwork, and monetary manipulation” — claims he calls “demonstrably and categorically false.”
Stern is asking the court docket for permission to subpoena Meta, X, Cloudflare, Namecheap and Google in an effort to determine the nameless poster.
“These aren’t protected expressions of opinion on issues of concern,” the petition claims. “They’re particular false factual assertions designed to destroy reputations and imperil enterprise relationships.”
JDSPulse didn’t reply to an e-mailed request for remark.
The developer says the alleged smear marketing campaign started in March 2025 with the launch of JDSPulse.com and corresponding social media accounts to allegedly goal the developer’s buyers, lenders and enterprise companions. A associated account on X impersonated Stern and unfold the accusations by interacting with varied media retailers, together with The Actual Deal, earlier than being eliminated by the platform, in accordance with the submitting.
The nameless operator took steps to hide their id, the submitting claims, together with registering the area via NameCheap utilizing an Iceland-based privateness proxy service.
Regardless of hiring personal investigators, Stern says he has been unable to determine the individual behind the posts.
Stern claims the allegations have already strained investor relationships and have been cited in separate litigation, together with a dispute involving Italian entrepreneur Gianluca Vacchi.
Stern filed a defamation lawsuit final yr in Florida in opposition to the operator of the web site and social media accounts and served subpoenas to Google, NameCheap and an investigative agency that did a background report on Stern that was posted on JDSPulse.
Representatives for Meta, X, Cloudflare, Namecheap and Google didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
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