5W PR Head Sued Over Alleged False And Defamatory Comments Made Online Against His Late Mother’s Boyfriend
Ronn Torossian, the head of 5W PR who in 2008 was caught (by this writer) impersonating online Rabbi Morris Allen and other figures critical of Agriprocessors and Sholom Rubashkin in order to defame them, has allegedly been caught again – this time by his late mother’s boyfriend.
Ronn Torossian
5W PR Head Sued Over Alleged False And Defamatory Comments Made Online Against His Late Mother’s Boyfriend
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Ronn Torossian, the head of the 5WPR public relations firm which was caught by FailedMessiah.com (please see the links posted below) in 2008 impersonating online Rabbi Morris Allen and other figures critical of Agriprocessors and Sholom Rubashkin in order to defame them, has allegedly been caught in a similar scam – this time an attempt to defame his late mother’s boyfriend.
Torossian allegedly “posted false stories on a slew of message boards alleging Dror Zoreff – Torossian’s late mother’s longtime live-in boyfriend – was a ‘con artist’ who'd been indicted for financial misdeeds like ‘fraud, embezzlement, money laundering and identity theft,’” the New York Daily News reported.
In November, the 68-year-old Zoreff reportedly filed a $15 million libel suit against Torossian in New York State Supreme Court claiming Torossian posted false stories on message boards defaming Zoreff.
“On Jan. 7, Torossian agreed in court to stop issuing false and defamatory statements about Mr. Zoreff and to immediately remove from the Internet all false statements,” Zoreff’s attorney, Richard G. Haddad, told the paper.
The online attacks against Zoreff began in October and then reportedly tapered off about a month later after Zoreff filed his lawsuit.
Zoreff’s suit reportedly says Zoreff caught Torossian red-handed when the IP address linked to the defamatory comments was traced to Torossian’s 5W PR.
Torossian’s attorney denies Torossian was behind the defamatory online comments.
“Mr. Zoreff asked that we not make any postings, and immediately the Torossian family agreed that we have not and will not make any posts,” Torossian’s attorney, Stuart Slotnick, reportedly told the paper.
Torossian’s mother passed away last year and Zoreff’s attorney claims Torossian’s alleged cyberattack began because of fighting between Zoreff and Torossian over her possessions.
“Pathetically, defendant Torossian’s malignant crusade against Zoreff seems to be born of a grudge stemming from Zoreff’s relationship with Torossian’s late mother [name redacted], who died from Alzheimer’s disease in February 2013,” Zoreff’s lawsuit reportedly says.
Torossian’s attorney reportedly says that claim is false and says Torossian’s family was generous and even included Zoreff in his mother’s life insurance proceeds.
“The Torossian family looks forward to having a jury try this case, where the real Mr. Zoreff can be revealed,” Torossian’s attorney reportedly said.
When asked for comment, Torossian referred FailedMessiah.com to his attorney's quotes as reported by the Daily News.
Related Posts:
2008: The post that broke the story.
2008: The post that broke the story, part 2.
5W Scandal Posts:1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1314, 15,16, 17, 18,19, 20, 21, 22 & 23.
Here's a late mention of the 5WPR scandal by the New York Times.
Crime Pays: Birthright Israel Hires 5WPR.
Crime Pays Again: El Al Hires 5WPR.
What a douchebag.
Glad the ny daily news shmarya credit.
Posted by: Primetrades | January 30, 2014 at 12:51 PM
I'm no fan of Ronn, but I will reserve judgement until the trial sorts everything out. I know people who were in a similar situation, whose loved one gave away the store to a con artist. Maybe that's the case here; maybe Ronn is just being jealous and the guy is innocent. At any rate, a cyber war is not legal or appropriate and doesn't make Ronn's case look good.
Posted by: Yochanan Lavie | January 30, 2014 at 01:21 PM
Not that I am talking about anybody mentioned in this story, but I do know of someone who's been a dick since he was in college, and probably before that too.
Posted by: Office of the Chief Rabbi | January 30, 2014 at 05:20 PM
again??? whats with this guy?
Posted by: ah-pee-chorus | January 30, 2014 at 08:24 PM
A story like this makes me want to see the mother's will and what she left to whom. I hope Shmarya posts the will if it is a public document.
Posted by: Kosher Ham | January 31, 2014 at 08:27 AM