Overview
- Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office sergeants Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana filed a federal defamation suit against Artists Equity and Falco Productions over The Rip, while Netflix is not named in the case.
- The complaint argues the film’s “inspired by true events” framing and distinctive details from a June 2016 cash seizure in Miami Lakes make the officers identifiable and suggest corrupt conduct that they deny occurred.
- The officers seek compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and a public retraction that adds a more prominent disclaimer to the movie and its marketing.
- Producers say the characters and storyline are fictional and point to a credits disclaimer stating any resemblance to real people is coincidental, noting they consulted Miami-Dade Capt. Chris Casiano as a technical advisor.
- The suit is active in Miami federal court after the judge flagged defects in the initial filing and ordered an amended complaint, and the dispute centers on whether using real-case specifics can support a defamation claim despite a fiction label.