A Miami federal judge has issued a default ruling against Ben Armstrong for not responding to Kevin O’Leary’s lawsuit alleging defamation.

Businessman and television figure Kevin O’Leary has successfully won a defamation suit worth $2.8 million against crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, also known as “Bitboy.”

Judge Beth Bloom of a Miami court mandated that Armstrong compensate O’Leary nearly $2.83 million due to a series of social media claims that labeled the Shark Tank personality a murderer.

The incident involved a 2019 boating accident involving O’Leary and his wife, Linda, which led to two deaths when their boat collided with another. In numerous posts on X, Armstrong accused O’Leary of murder, alleging that he had spent millions to conceal the incident.

In her ruling, Judge Bloom clarified that O’Leary was not operating the boat during the incident and had not faced any charges. Meanwhile, Linda O’Leary, who was charged with operating the vehicle carelessly, was vindicated after a 13-day trial revealed that the other vessel was without its lights.

Armstrong Shared O’Leary’s Phone Number in X Outburst

Judge Bloom pointed out that Armstrong exacerbated the situation by publicly sharing O’Leary’s personal phone number, encouraging his followers to contact him, and thus leading to a 12-hour suspension from X.

O’Leary noted that his phone was overwhelmed with calls following the post, significantly impacting both his professional and personal life. The ruling included $750,000 for emotional distress, $78,000 for damage to reputation, and $2 million in punitive damages.

This ruling adds to Armstrong’s recent legal troubles amid various public controversies, including his departure from the Bitboy Crypto brand, which he once managed, and two arrests earlier this year for separate legal issues.

Kevin O’Leary Kevin O’Leary, pictured at a conference last year. Source: YouTube

Ben Armstrong Ben Armstrong appeared in a video on his YouTube channel in October. Source: YouTube