Social media influencer Dan Bilzerian’s lawsuit against his father and executives tied to his Ignite lifestyle and vape brand has been thrown out of Nevada federal court, with the judge ruling that the case lacked any real connection to the state.
In a seven-page order issued Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Richard F. Boulware II dismantled Bilzerian’s argument that Nevada had personal jurisdiction over Ignite International Ltd., Ignite US, and their officers. Bilzerian pointed to their websites and social media targeting American consumers, but the court found his pleadings “light on details” as to how those online activities uniquely engaged Nevada residents.
“Plaintiff does not allege that the Ignite website did anything to encourage Nevadans to access or engage with the site,” Judge Boulware wrote, adding that Bilzerian had not articulated specific “forum-related activities.”
Family Feud at the Heart of the Case
Bilzerian, who filed the lawsuit in November 2024, accused his father, Paul A. Bilzerian, of orchestrating a boardroom coup that pushed him out as nominal CEO in December 2023. Despite his removal, he claimed the company continued to exploit his name and image to sell products, tarnishing his reputation as federal prosecutors later accused his father, ex-CEO Scott Rohleder, and Ignite of securities and wire fraud.
Founded in 2017, Ignite has faced a steady stream of legal troubles since 2020, according to court filings. Bilzerian said his dissatisfaction grew over what he described as declining product quality under his father’s management. He claimed that because his image could command “hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars” in licensing deals, being linked to subpar Ignite products directly harmed his influencer brand.
