Michigan Lawsuit Over Failed Facebook Romance Dismissed

A Michigan judge this week dismissed a lawsuit filed by a woman who sought more than $8,000 from a Washington man she met on Facebook after he called an end to their online romance.

The judge said she had no jurisdiction in the case.

Cheryl Gray had sued Wylie Iwan in Livonia District Court over a digital camera, professional baseball tickets and other items she bought him during their six-month relationship.

Gray, 50, said the two met while playing the Mafia Wars game on the online community and developed a relationship. But Iwan ended it a week before she was to fly out and see him. Gray said he sent her a message claiming he had met someone else.

She filed the suit in May, claiming misrepresentation and defamation of character.

“The judge dismissed it based on the court having no personal jurisdiction on the defendant, who is an out-of-state resident,” said Julian Poota, Iwan’s attorney.

Iwan, 35, of Kennewick, Wash., did not travel to Michigan for the court hearing.

“We are pleased the judge ruled the way she did,” Poota said. “The plaintiff was arguing the personal relationship constituted doing business in Michigan.”

Gray said disparaging comments about her were made online after their relationship ended.

“The defendant wrote a false and malicious note on his Facebook wall,” Gray said in court.