Pet care center owner’s suit is dismissed

Russell Ebersole

HARRISONBURG — A suit involving a Clarke County woman and Aberdeen Acres Pet Care Center owner Russell Ebersole has been dismissed.

The suit, filed Oct. 2 in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, alleged that Sharlin Oren defamed Ebersole and his business through the use of social media and through her friendship with Bridget Kline-Perry — who operates Norsire Farms-Rare Colored Jockey Club Thoroughbreds in Purcellville.

According to an order entered Tuesday in the same court, the parties filed a stipulation of dismissal with prejudice, and District Judge Michael F. Urbanski ordered it be dismissed.

Ebersole recently sued Kline-Perry for similar allegations, and a jury found that she conspired to harm his business — located near Stephenson — and defamed him through the use of social media. A jury awarded Ebersole approximately $90,000 in the case, but the amount was later reduced by 75 percent to $22,500.

In the lawsuit against Oren, Ebersole sought $1.35 million in damages.

Oren denied in her answer to Ebersole’s civil complaint that she committed any act or made any omission in a willful, wanton, malicious or intentional manner to cause injury to Ebersole or his business.

— Contact Melissa Boughton at mboughton@winchesterstar.com