Regarding the recent lawsuit decision by the Appellate Division of N.J. Superior Court regarding a defamation suit in favor of your newspapers, I offer my congratulations. However, the recent onslaught of media coverage regarding constitutional rights that protect news organizations from such litigious actions has brought to our attention the fact that while we support “freedom of the press” to report, we also support the fact that news organizations must be held to higher standards of reporting and that all sources must be checked.
Specifically, I am writing because I will be adversely affected by the media coverage of Karen Petersen’s attempt to claim defamation by several news publications, where they reported her business operations as “Freedom Farm,” which is the name of my business, registered and legally held by my business corporation in Flemington (Hunterdon County), and which has nothing to do with Ms. Petersen’s business entity (located in the Cream Ridge section of Upper Freehold Township in Monmouth County). To an outsider, seeing Freedom Farm listed on search engine results for New Jersey equine farms, now associated with this awful lawsuit and death of a horse on her property, will deteriorate our brand recognition and our reputation — often the most important factor.
I have never met Ms. Petersen, but I have been told that her business is called Freedom Farm USA.
I have been operating under Freedom Farm since 2002 and have worked tirelessly to build this brand in a very niche industry. My reputation is at stake, and the future of my business is equally at risk because of mistaken association with Ms. Petersen and this lawsuit. In this economic climate, being associated with this could in fact lead potential clients to think that both businesses are one and the same, ultimately impacting the stellar reputation my husband, Pete D’Costa, and I have worked hard to achieve.
Pete D’Costa and I have struggled as independent small-business owners and equine enthusiasts to develop our brand recognition. To date, our business has hosted Olympians and Grand Prix riders, and continue to have a clientele who appreciate high-caliber customer relations and service. Our integrity has been our most solid selling point, and with the potential for “mistaken identity” with Ms. Petersen’s situation, we are leery of what may lie ahead.
Marie D’Costa
Partner
Freedom Farm
Flemington
Hunterdon County