Cape Coral chapel owner ordered to pay in defamation suit

Reporter: Corey Lazar
Published: Updated:

CAPE CORAL, Fla. – A controversial chapel owner must pay $100,000 to a man after he was accused of putting up posters falsely claiming the man was being investigated for a sex crime.

A jury sided with Michael Anagnbos, who said the fliers made him lose friends, become homeless and ruined his reputation.

But Jerome Valenta, the owner of Haven of Divine Love Apartment House, claims he is the true victim.

“We presented our defense before the jury. And we won on four out of five counts that were filed against the defendants in this case,” said Alan Hamisch, Valenta’s attorney. “We respect the jury system and are grateful for the freedoms that we celebrate. We are now discussing potential appealable issues within the defamation.”

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