BENTON – Karissa Barrows of Belleville, defending a claim that she wrecked the career of video game writer Christopher Avellone, asserts that he wrecked it himself.
Her counsel Daniel Allender of Los Angeles answered Avellone’s defamation suit by branding him as “libel proof.”
“Avellone’s reputation with respect to the subject matter of Barrows’s statements is so diminished that it could not have been damaged further by Barrows’s statements,” Allender wrote.
U.S. District Judge Staci Yandle entered an order on Dec. 27 setting mediation in June and, if that doesn’t result in resolution, trial in December.
Avellone’s counsel Anand Mathew of Chicago sued Barrows in September, “to expose the truth and vindicate his reputation.”
He claimed Avellone and Barrows met in 2012 at a computer game convention in Atlanta, where they flirted and kissed.
He claimed Avellone escorted Barrows to the train station for her departure.
Mathew wrote that Barrows made public and private statements for two years about their friendly relations and her admiration for Avellone.
He claimed Barrows introduced Avellone to a close friend, and he was casually involved with the friend for about a year.
Barrows allegedly interfered in their relationship and became more hostile.
Mathew claimed Avellone ceased all communication in 2014 and blocked her number.
A video game website published an interview with Avellone in 2020, and Barrows tweeted a day later that he preyed on young women.
Mathew claimed she stated he got them drunk and took them to hotel rooms.
She allegedly stated he showed up to panels late and wasted, treating fans so badly he was black listed from a big convention.
Mathew wrote that Barrows stated a day later that, “Yesterday was the first time I said something publicly about this and I’m done being silent.”
He claimed she posted 14 tweets that day.
He claimed media outlets repeated her story and published additional quotes.
“He assaulted me 100% but I stopped him,” Barrows allegedly told an outlet.
Mathew claimed three studios terminated contracts with Avellone in a week.
He claimed Barrows deleted about 60,000 tweets from 2009 to 2017, including a statement that she was never harassed or abused at a convention.
Mathew wrote that Avellone never sexually abused or assaulted Barrows or any other woman and never targeted young women.
He claimed Barrows acted with actual malice.
Mathew sought actual and punitive damages and an injunction requiring Barrows to retract all false and defamatory statements.
Allender answered the complaint for Barrows in November, denying that Avellone was entitled to any form or relief.
He asserted that a statute of limitations and a guarantee of free speech in the U.S. Constitution barred all claims.
“None of Barrows’s statements were made with actual malice and Avellone cannot prove actual malice,” he wrote.
“Each and every alleged statement by Barrows was either true, substantially true, or a statement of opinion,” Allender added.
He claimed others caused the damages Avellone alleged in whole or in part.
“The damages and harms alleged by Avellone were also caused, in whole or in part, by Avellone’s own conduct,” Allender wrote.
“Any damages owed by Barrows to Avellone must be reduced in whole or in part by the amount of damages caused by others or by Avellone,” he added.