Woman Sues Ex|Over Revenge Porn

(CN) - A Florida woman sued her ex-boyfriend in federal court for posting naked photos of her on the Internet - a possible harbinger of future lawsuits in the age of social media.

The woman, identified only as B.R., alleges Christopher Peters uploaded at least 25 nude photos of her to a website called Myex.com after their long-distance relationship ended. Peters also listed the woman's name and contact information, according to the complaint.

"On or about February 26, 2015, plaintiff was advised by an acquaintance that pictures of her had been posted online. Plaintiff subsequently discovered that at least 25 pictures of her had been published on myex.com by the defendant, the same site to which he previously threatened to post her photographs," the complaint states. "In addition to posting the photographs, defendant identified plaintiff specifically by name and provided contact information for plaintiff including social media screennames."

The lawsuit, filed in the Middle Florida district court, seeks damages for breach of copyright, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress. B.R. also wants all copies of the photographs destroyed.

"Defendant's intentional conduct described herein was calculated to, and has caused, plaintiff to suffer severe emotional distress, embarrassment, humiliation, depression, and physical illness," the complaint states. "Plaintiff has been forced to limit social and professional contacts, and has been forced to curtail an opportunity to reapply with her former employer."

B.R. alleges Peters also sent group texts with pictures of her and contacted a former employer about the photos.

"Defendant's conduct has caused Plaintiff great and irreparable injury that can neither be fully compensated nor measured in money," states the complaint.

Myex.com and other "revenge porn" websites have been the subject of litigation recently. Last year, a Texas woman sued Myex.com -- along with Google, Yahoo and another pornographic website -- for refusing to take down links to images of her.

Over the last few years, more than 20 state legislatures passed revenge porn statutes, according to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. New Jersey was the first state to pass such a law in 2004. Florida passed a similar measure earlier this year, which makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to post a sexually-explicit photo online without consent and with identifying information.

B.R. is represented by Vincent Gannuscio in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Follow @alexbpickett

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Email *

Submit