Richmond Flying Squirrels owner and Diamond District developer settle defamation lawsuit

A defamation lawsuit between Richmond Flying Squirrels owner Lou DiBella and Diamond District developer Jason Guillot has been settled, Richmond BizSense reported. The dispute originated from a heated exchange during the Squirrels’ opening game at CarMax Park earlier this year.

The parties jointly filed a proposed order with U.S. District Judge David Novak to dismiss the case with prejudice, preventing it from being brought again in Richmond federal court. The terms of the settlement remain confidential, though the court will retain jurisdiction to enforce them.

In a public joint statement, DiBella and Guillot expressed regret over the incident and subsequent dispute. They clarified that DiBella did not physically threaten Guillot or his family, and any perceived threat was of litigation, according to Richmond BizSense.

The settlement allows both parties to move past the legal conflict and concentrate on their respective businesses in Richmond. The lawsuit had drawn significant local attention since it was filed in May by DiBella against Guillot and Thalhimer Realty Partners, the firm leading the Diamond District development near CarMax Park.