Overview
- Judge Beth Bloom of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida entered default after Ben Armstrong failed to respond or appear in the defamation case.
- The judgment totals about $2.83 million, including $2 million in punitive damages, $750,000 for emotional distress, and $78,000 for reputational harm.
- The suit stemmed from March 2025 posts falsely accusing Kevin O’Leary of murder tied to a 2019 Ontario boating accident; O’Leary was never charged and his wife was later exonerated.
- Armstrong published O’Leary’s private phone number and urged followers to call him, leading to harassment concerns and a 12-hour suspension of Armstrong’s X account.
- Armstrong’s motion to vacate the default, citing incarceration and mental-health claims, was denied, and reporters note collecting the award could be difficult given his ongoing legal and financial troubles.