1:25-cv-08067
09/29/2025
Open
Civil
government surveillance activities, an allegation Defendants knew or should have known was untrue.
4. The assertion that Remark is a Chinese company was false and misleading; such characterization is no more accurate than describing Apple or Tesla as Chinese companies based on their use of China-based suppliers.
5. In fact, Remark is a U.S. company, and Discovery Communications, a U.S. media company, was one of its significant shareholders. This publicly available information was apparently ignored.
6. This action is based on articles published on September 30, 2024 , and February 12, 2025 , by Politico, which falsely described Remark as having “ties to China” and “shaky financials,” and linked Plaintiffs to government surveillance activities.
7. These statements were presented as factual assertions rather than opinion. Politico knew or recklessly disregarded that Remark has no ties to the Chinese government, has never participated in government surveillance programs, and operates as a U.S. company with established international business relationships and technology partnerships, including with NVIDIA, PNY, Oracle, and Microsoft.
8. Politico’s reckless disregard for the truth caused substantial harm to Plaintiffs’ business and reputation. Immediately after publication, many existing and prospective partners, including PNY Technologies, rescinded or canceled collaborations with Plaintiffs as a direct result of the articles.
9. The publications deterred investors and partners, disrupted business negotiations, impaired Remark’s ability to raise capital, and damaged Mr. Tao’s personal reputation by
portraying him as tied to foreign government surveillance and as leading a company with “shaky financials.”
10. Further, Defendants ignored Plaintiffs’ attempts to correct the false narrative and failed to exercise sound journalistic practices. The articles presented no topics requiring urgent reporting. Plaintiffs are not public figures, and neither the September 30, 2024 nor the February 12, 2025 article addressed matters of genuine public concern. The Constitution does not protect false and defamatory reporting that causes irreparable harm to a business and its reputation.
11. The publications did not involve constitutionally protected commentary on public officials or issues of urgent public importance. They addressed private business operations, where accuracy was required and no urgency justified errors.
12. Unlike urgent reporting on breaking events, these articles mischaracterized commercial relationships and financial disclosures that could have, and should have, been carefully verified before publication.
13. Defendants’ failure to investigate, despite having ample time and information, shows their reckless and malicious disregard for the truth.
14. This case is not an attempt to restrict constitutionally protected free speech. It concerns the deliberate dissemination of false factual assertions about private individuals and a U.S. business, where no heightened First Amendment protections apply.
15. Plaintiff Remark Holdings, Inc. (“Remark”) is incorporated in Nevada and maintains its principal place of business in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Page 3Presiding Judge
Victor Marrero
Plaintiffs
Remark Holdings, Inc.
Kai-Shing Tao
Defendants
Politico LLC
Joe Anuta
Plaintiff Attorney
Robert J Hantman
(#1) COMPLAINT against Joe Anuta, Politico LLC. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-31782318)Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit POLITICO 09.29.24 Article, #2 Exhibit POLITICO 02.12.25 Article, #3 Exhibit 2025.08.29 Ltr. to Politico, #4 Exhibit 2025.09.15 Response to Remark, #5 Exhibit PNY Email to Remark).(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
Exhibit POLITICO 09.29.24 Article
Exhibit POLITICO 02.12.25 Article
Exhibit 2025.08.29 Ltr. to Politico
Exhibit 2025.09.15 Response to Remark
Exhibit PNY Email to Remark
(#2) FILING ERROR - PDF ERROR - CIVIL COVER SHEET filed..(Hantman, Robert) Modified on 9/30/2025 (jgo). (Entered: 09/29/2025)
(#3) REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to POLITICO LLC, re: #1 Complaint,. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
(#4) REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Joe Anuta, re: #1 Complaint,. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
(#5) RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
(#6) ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Joe Anuta..(jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
(#7) ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Politico LLC..(jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
Docket(#7) ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Politico LLC..(jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#6) ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED as to Joe Anuta..(jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocketCase Designated ECF. (jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocketMagistrate Judge Ona T. Wang is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: #https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocketCASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Victor Marrero. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at #https://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/district-judges. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at #https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions..(jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING CIVIL CASE OPENING STATISTICAL ERROR CORRECTION: Notice to attorney Robert J Hantman. The following case opening statistical information was erroneously selected/entered: Dollar Demand $50,000,000; County code New York;. The following correction(s) have been made to your case entry: the Dollar Demand has been modified to $9,999,000; the County code has been modified to XX Out of State;. Corrections were updated as per the Civil Cover Sheet. (jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT CIVIL COVER SHEET. Notice to attorney Robert J Hantman to RE-FILE Document No. #2 Civil Cover Sheet. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): the PDF attached to the docket entry for the civil cover sheet is not correct; multiple Citizenship Defendant codes were selected under Citizenship of Principal Parties;. Re-file the document using the event type Civil Cover Sheet found under the event list Other Documents and attach the correct PDF. Use civil cover sheet issued by S.D.N.Y. dated December 4, 2024. The S.D.N.Y. Civil Cover Sheet dated December 4, 2024 is located at#http://nysd.uscourts.gov/forms/civil-cover-sheet-2.. (jgo) (Entered: 09/30/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#5) RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#4) REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Joe Anuta, re: #1 Complaint,. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#3) REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to POLITICO LLC, re: #1 Complaint,. Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao..(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#2) FILING ERROR - PDF ERROR - CIVIL COVER SHEET filed..(Hantman, Robert) Modified on 9/30/2025 (jgo). (Entered: 09/29/2025)
[-] Read LessDocket(#1) COMPLAINT against Joe Anuta, Politico LLC. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-31782318)Document filed by Remark Holdings, Inc., Kai-Shing Tao. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit POLITICO 09.29.24 Article, #2 Exhibit POLITICO 02.12.25 Article, #3 Exhibit 2025.08.29 Ltr. to Politico, #4 Exhibit 2025.09.15 Response to Remark, #5 Exhibit PNY Email to Remark).(Hantman, Robert) (Entered: 09/29/2025)
[-] Read Less