July 20, 2007 | The Biz

You've been served...by FlavaWorks

Two blog writers are reportedly being sued by Phillip Bleicher, the owner of FlavaWorks, for alleging that the porn company has lax employee health standards. The suit is demanding $250,000 in damages for libel.

"I know what libel is and I know what libel isn't and nothing that was written was libel," argued Jasmyne Cannick, one of the bloggers in question. "We simply stated facts, which I am happy to do again."

A second blogger, Bernie Tarver, is also facing legal action. He stopped posting in June to focus on his offline life and has not responded publicly to the charges. 

So what's with the litigation?

FlavaWorks runs the Cocoboyz, Thugboy and PapiCock websites, and publishes Flavamen and FlavaLife magazines, all featuring young Black and Latino guys. Their videos have in the past featured barebacking. 

In May, 2006, the Chicago Free Press quoted Christopher Brown, assistant commissioner for HIV/AIDS/STD programs at the Chicago Dept. of Public Health as saying that his department responded to "credible" evidence suggesting that models at FlavaWorks -- particularly those in the CocoDorm live sex site -- were HIV-positive and were engaging in unsafe sex acts that resulted in the spread of HIV, syphilis and gonorrhea outside the business. The Health Dept. issued a cease and desist order against FlavaWorks. Many blogs, including BananaGuide, reported the news.

Flavaworks has since relocated to Miami and at present is focussed on the passing of their Vice President, Dekenric Wiley, who died of pneumonia on July 12, aged 32. 

Blogger Cannick shrugged off the lawsuit: "I have a hard time getting $2.50 together much less $250,000."

You mean there's no money in blogging? Crap.

• CocoDorm/FlavaWorks files lawsuits [chicagopride.com]
• Gay porn king sues black LGBT bloggers for exposing truth [Jasmyne Cannick]
• Ex-Boykinista on 'The House Next Door' [Taylor Siluwe's Blog]