In a dramatic legal battle, a California sports photographer has accused a prestigious university and its employees of defamation, invasion of privacy, and several other serious allegations. Benjamin Hyles filed the complaint on February 4, 2025, in the Superior Court of Santa Clara County against Regina Verlengiere, Leland Stanford Junior University, and others. Hyles claims that false statements made by the defendants have severely damaged his reputation and career.
The lawsuit centers around Hyles' role as a sports photographer who had been working closely with Stanford's athletic teams for years. According to the complaint, Hyles alleges that he was embraced by Stanford's wrestling program and had unfettered access to events due to his high-quality photography work. However, tensions arose following a social media controversy involving accusations against other photographers unrelated to Hyles. The complaint suggests that these accusations were used as a pretext by Stanford employees to cast Hyles in a negative light due to his sexual orientation.
Hyles accuses Regina Verlengiere, Senior Director of Communications at Stanford's Athletics Department, and Christopher Ayres, Head Wrestling Coach at Stanford, of making defamatory statements about him without seeking clarification or evidence. These statements allegedly painted Hyles as unprofessional and unsuitable for his role as a photographer. The complaint further alleges that Verlengiere entered false information into Stanford's database, branding Hyles as a "creepy stalker" based on unfounded claims.
In addition to defamation and invasion of privacy claims, Hyles accuses the defendants of negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He argues that their actions were reckless and intended to cause harm. The lawsuit also includes allegations of fraud related to promises made by Stanford employees regarding his continued engagement with the university's athletic programs.
Hyles is seeking monetary damages exceeding $100,000 for each cause of action listed in the complaint. He also requests court orders preventing further defamatory statements or interference with his professional relationships. Furthermore, he demands compensation for emotional distress caused by the defendants' conduct.
Representing himself in this case is Benjamin Hyles; no attorneys are listed for either party in the document provided. The case is presided over by Judge L. Ayala under Case No.: 200V458163.