UPDATE: A federal judge has ruled that a New Jersey woman will have to pay over $931,000 to her ex-boyfriend following a revenge porn case that has shocked many. The decision, made on November 12, 2023, comes after the woman, identified as Dezarae Collins from Salem, Oregon, failed to defend herself in court against allegations of extensive harassment and the unauthorized sharing of intimate images.
The man, referred to in court documents as S.S., accused Collins of posting nude videos and images he had sent her during a brief, long-distance relationship that began in 2015. The situation escalated after their relationship ended in 2016, with Collins allegedly harassing S.S. and his associates relentlessly for several years.
Court documents reveal that Collins contacted S.S.’s workplace, bombarded his family members with as many as 250 calls a day, and even reached out to his new girlfriend. The harassment intensified in 2022 when Collins reportedly sent explicit images to S.S.’s family and his girlfriend’s family.
According to the judge’s ruling, Collins shared two videos and 12 images of S.S. more than 77 times through anonymous text messages over a three-week period. She allegedly created a fake Facebook profile impersonating S.S. and shared these graphic images along with sensitive personal information, including his social security number.
The fallout from Collins’s actions has had a devastating impact on S.S. He testified that he was forced to change his phone number more than 100 times over the past seven years to escape the harassment and claimed he lost multiple job opportunities as a direct result.
In a statement, S.S.’s attorney, Daniel S. Szalkiewicz, expressed relief at the ruling, stating, “Today, our firm secured justice for our client, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who was relentlessly electronically harassed by an ex-girlfriend.” He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the severity of such abuse, highlighting that no one should endure this kind of torment.
The court awarded S.S. $1,000 for each instance the graphic content was shared, in addition to $150,000 in liquidated damages and another $681,000 in punitive damages, reflecting the seriousness of the offense.
This case underscores the urgent need for legal protections against revenge porn and electronic harassment. As technology continues to evolve, the need for robust laws to protect individuals from such invasions of privacy becomes increasingly critical.
With the judgment now finalized, attention turns to how this ruling may influence similar cases in the future and the ongoing discussions surrounding digital privacy rights. As the legal landscape adapts, victims of electronic harassment like S.S. may find hope in this landmark decision that holds perpetrators accountable for their actions.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
