The complaint alleges that the story urged viewers in February 2024 to sign a petition against the upcoming execution of Ivan Cantu, whose case drew public attention amid doubts over the integrity of his convictions, but the picture used by Kardashian was not the right person, according to a Westchester County, New York, man — also named Ivan Cantu — who is now pressing claims for defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, false light and negligence.
"This litigation will demonstrate that Mr. Cantu is a very private family man with two daughters," his attorney, Greg Sobo of Sobo & Sobo, told Law360 in an email Friday. "At the time Kim Kardashian defamed his reputation, he was grieving a very private family loss. As a result of the Kardashian abuse, Mr. Cantu's privacy was destroyed at a most critical and sensitive time, and he has suffered very real trauma that will last a lifetime."
According to the lawsuit, Cantu experienced anxiety, loss of sleep and nightmares after the mishap. Sobo said his client "never wanted to litigate this issue," but their attempts to contact Kardashian and her team went unanswered.
"Social media is a powerful force," Sobo said. "It can be used for good: to spark social change, to warn of danger and to foster relationships. "But, when abused, social media can also inflict pain, suffering and tragedy."
Kardashian has been known to elevate criminal justice reform causes and speak on high-profile cases like that of Texas man Ivan Cantu, who was executed on Feb. 28, 2024, for the murders of his cousin and his cousin's fiancé in 2000, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. As new evidence and questions about the fairness of his trial surfaced, Cantu gained support from figures like author and longtime criminal justice reform advocate Sister Helen Prejean and actor Martin Sheen. He maintained his innocence to the end of his life.
The plaintiff is represented by Greg Sobo of Sobo & Sobo and Will Skinner and Stephen Ginger of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP.
Counsel information was not immediately available for Kim Kardashian.
The case is Cantu v. Kardashian, case number unavailable, in the California Superior Court for the County of Los Angeles.
--Editing by Andrew Cohen.
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