NEWARK, N.J. – A federal judge has refused to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by New Jersey attorney Patrick Trainor against Texas-based online personality James McGibney, known on social media as @Bullyville and @RealBullyville.
U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi issued the ruling in Newark, denying McGibney’s motion to dismiss the complaint, which accuses him of making false and damaging statements about Trainor across social media platforms and in a Florida court filing. The order allows Trainor’s lawsuit to move forward.
According to court filings, Trainor represented a client in a civil case in the Middle District of Florida when McGibney allegedly began targeting him online after Trainor issued discovery requests that included McGibney’s communications. When Trainor refused to withdraw the requests, McGibney allegedly sent a threatening email and later posted a series of accusations online claiming Trainor engaged in unethical and criminal behavior.
The posts, cited in the complaint, included claims that Trainor lied in legal filings, conspired with a convicted felon, and faced imminent disbarment. McGibney also filed a declaration in the Florida case accusing Trainor of committing fraud upon the court. Trainor and his law office filed suit in the District of New Jersey, arguing the statements were knowingly false and harmed his professional reputation.
McGibney sought to have the case dismissed, but Judge Cecchi ruled that Trainor’s claims, if proven, could meet the legal threshold for defamation. The court found that the complaint sufficiently alleged factual assertions that, if false, could be actionable under New Jersey law. The decision means discovery will proceed in the case.
Key points:
• Judge Claire C. Cecchi denied James McGibney’s motion to dismiss Patrick Trainor’s defamation suit.
• The lawsuit claims McGibney, known as @Bullyville, posted false, damaging accusations online.
• The case now moves forward to discovery in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.