A Van Nuys businesswoman has dropped her negligence/defamation lawsuit against Dr. Mehmet Oz, who she alleged had harmed her reputation by doing a video segment about alleged healthcare fraud in the Armenian community.
Plaintiff Anna Ivanyan owns Tigranakert Meat Market and maintained her image was impacted when Oz made a video about alleged healthcare fraud in the Armenian community. Ivanyan’s business could be seen in the background of the segment. Oz is the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
On Wednesday, Ivanyan’s attorney filed court papers with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey asking that he dismiss the case “without prejudice,” which will allow it to be possibly refiled. No explanation was provided in Ivanyan’s court papers.
The alleged offensive video was published on Oz’s platform and on Instagram on Jan. 27 and distributed worldwide, according to the suit.
The statements spread rapidly and reached Ivanyan’s customers, community members and the general public, harming the businesswoman’s reputation, the suit filed April 1 stated.