Scottish Lawyer Files $170 Million Defamation Lawsuit Against Netflix & Richard Gadd Over Depiction Of Her In ‘Baby Reindeer’

Fiona Harvey, a Scottish lawyer, has filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix and the creator of the hit series Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd.

The lawsuit, filed in a California court, alleges that the streaming giant and Gadd have engaged in a blatant act of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of Harvey’s right of publicity.

According to the 34-page complaint, the series, which was marketed as a “true story,” has painted a false and damaging portrait of Harvey, depicting her as a “twice convicted stalker” who “sexually assaulted” Gadd. The lawsuit claims that Netflix and Gadd told these “lies” to over 50 million viewers worldwide, “because it was a better story than the truth, and better stories made money.”

The plaintiff is seeking a staggering amount in damages, including $50 million in actual damages, $50 million in compensatory damages for “mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life and loss of business,” and another $50 million in profits from Baby Reindeer. Harvey is also seeking $20 million in punitive damages, as well as pre-judgment interest and legal fees.

In a scathing statement, Harvey’s lawyers have accused Netflix and Gadd of engaging in “greed and lust for fame” and “utterly reckless misconduct” that has “ruined” the plaintiff’s life, destroying her “reputation, her character and her life.”

Gadd claimed in interviews he changed details about the real-life Martha, but internet sleuths found Harvey’s social media posts that mirrored similar phrases used in the series.

Netflix, for its part, has vowed to “defend this matter vigorously” and to stand by Gadd’s right to tell his story. However, the sheer scale of the lawsuit suggests that the damage done to Harvey’s reputation may be irreparable.

Gadd’s stalker drama follows Donny (Gadd), a struggling comedian whose life falls apart when he’s relentlessly stalked by a woman called Martha. It is based on Gadd’s one-man play and launched on Netflix in April. The series is seven episodes.