(CN) - The makers of "Storage Hunters" launched a campaign to defame two of its reality stars after abruptly yanking them from the show, the couple claims in a $2 million lawsuit.
Scott Tassone and Christina Kachadorian, a husband-and-wife team, say they agreed in March 2012 to appear on 26 episodes of the second season of the show, with six more options for future seasons.
But T Group Productions, which produces the series broadcast on TruTV and its affiliated networks, suddenly revoked the contract that December - two weeks before the scheduled start of filming for the third season, according to the couple's complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Soon thereafter, several T Group employees began to defame the couple, injuring their personal and professional relationships, as well as their livelihoods. Tassone and Kachadorian say the defamation took the shape of comments on the show's Facebook page that called them "liars," "con artists" and "thieves," and said they operate an "illegal business."
There were also references to death threats and lynching, with some comments bragging bout shutting the plaintiffs' business down, the couple says.
The show chronicles storage auctions. The couple owns a "moving, wholesale and entertainment" business in Orange County, Calif.
Tassone and Kachadorian say the comments damaged their business and that their abrupt removal from the show caused them to lose the money they extended to curtail their business in order to appear on the show.
They also say the defendants diverted money through shell companies they "used as a conduit" for their personal lives.
They seek $2.1 million in damages for emotional distress, intentional interference with contractual relations, civil conspiracy, negligence, breach of contract, wrongful termination, defamation, fraud and other charges.
Named as defendants, along with T Group Productions, are Courtroom Television, dba TruTV, and individual employees.
Plaintiffs are represented by Ashley L. Brown.
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