A spokesperson for Netflix viewed the verdict as a favorable outcome, given that the plaintiffs had initially sought tens of millions in punitive damages. Netflix argued successfully that one of the women had voluntarily revealed her biological relationship to Cline through social media, which contributed to the jury’s decision to clear the company of claims related to her.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Netflix’s defense team, which included lawyers from five major national law firms, worked to reduce the company’s exposure. A significant win came during summary judgment when U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt dismissed the claims of one of the three plaintiffs and later ruled that the plaintiffs’ punitive damages claims could not proceed. Judge Pratt concluded that there was insufficient evidence to show that Netflix had acted with gross negligence or reckless disregard for the plaintiffs’ privacy rights. The evidence, she said, indicated that both Netflix and RealHouse had taken steps to comply with legal requirements.
