Judge rules social post made about Joe Morrissey was ‘overwhelmingly’ true

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A judge ruled on Wednesday that a social post claiming former Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey was "a violent thug, a liar and a sexual predator" was made on a "factual basis."

According to documents obtained by 8News, a judge ruled on Wednesday, Feb. 5, that evidence showed "overwhelmingly" that a social post made by Jimmie Lee Jarvis about former Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey was true in a $1 million defamation suit originally filed by Morrissey.

The defamation suit stems from an alleged Jan. 14, 2022, post on X, formerly Twitter, in which Jarvis said, "Joe Morrissey is a violent thug, a liar and a sexual predator.”

According to the documents, the statements were reportedly made when Morrissey was a sitting state senator running for re-election.

After Morrissey filed the suit, Jarvis filed a counter-suit, providing evidence in an effort to prove his statement was not defamatory and requesting an award of attorney's fees under the Virginia Code 8.01-233.2.

In the motion for summary judgment, Morrissey was said to have admitted the authenticity of several public news reports and documents that would reportedly validate the comments made by Jarvis, some of which 8News has detailed below.

Documents provided for 'violent thug' claim

The documents obtained by 8News cite an article by the Washington Post, which reported that Morrissey was in jail before for a courthouse fistfight, and was charged after another fight, which he then capitalized on with a "fighter" campaign, decorating ads and his office with boxing gloves.

According to another court document cited, on July 3, 1999, Morrissey, who was an attorney and former Commonwealth Attorney at the time, stated to Gary Wycoff, a Virginia resident, "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to beat your head in."

Morrissey then reportedly attacked Wycoff, beating his face and head with his fists causing severe injuries. A suit was filed on Wycoff's behalf on July 2, 2001.

Documents provided for 'sexual predator' claim

Additionally, the documents reported that Morrissey was indicted on June 30, 2014, on felony charges of indecent liberties with a minor, possession and distribution of child pornography and electronic solicitation of a minor.

The charges were made after police reportedly found Morrissey in his Henrico County home with a 17-year-old girl. That girl would later become his wife but, at the time -- August 2013 -- was an employee of his law office.

According to the documents, Morrissey served three months of a 12-month sentence and resigned as a delegate at the Virginia House after being convicted.

According to a report from the Richmond Times-Dispatch referenced in the documents, a Henrico County judge allowed a woman formerly represented by Joe Morrissey's law firm to withdraw a guilty plea amid allegations that he pressured her for sex.

The report said Morrissey allegedly exposed himself to the woman in his law office and continued making advances through text messages.

According to the Richmond-Times Dispatch, when the woman repeatedly refused Morrissey, she said he handed over her case to another lawyer in his office, who pushed her into taking a plea
deal.

Documents provided for 'a liar' claim

The documents cite an article by the Daily Press, in which it reports a forgery and perjury indictment of Morrissey, where he was "accused of forging a document he vouched for in court, and persuading the girl's mother to swear to its authenticity as well."

According to the Daily Press's report, that woman, Deidre Warren, was also indicted on perjury and forgery charges.

According to a report cited in the documents from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Virginia State Bar charged Morrissey with destroying evidence and making false statements in court in an attempt to cover up a 2013 sexual relationship with a then 17-year-old receptionist in his law office.

The report said, "a seven-page document detailed the allegations Morrissey concocted the hacking defense, deleted incriminating text messages from his phone, fabricated alibis and instructed potential witnesses as to what their testimony should be."

According to the court transcript obtained by 8News, the court made the following statement in its decision:

I thought the evidence presented by the moving party that there is a factual basis for that tweet. It is overwhelming. There is a twenty-year history of these kinds of reporting of these kinds of incidents. To get charged with sexual assault felony and break it down to a CHINS petition certainly provides a basis for the sexual predator aspect of this. It is just well known that she was seventeen. There have been numerous of reports of other courts, judicial bodies, finding dishonesty with respect to Mr. Morrissey. And there were multiple cases of assaultive behavior, which supports the term thug. The motion is granted. Honorable Charles J. Maxfield, Judge

In response to the judge's motion, Jarvis' attorney Thomas M. Wolf sent 8News the following statement:

For years Morrissey has been suing his critics for defamation. With this ruling citing “overwhelming evidence” that he is a violent thug, a liar and a sexual predator, his reputation has been shown to be so bad that it should now be impossible to defame him. The only person Morrissey can blame for damaging his reputation is himself. Thomas M. Wolf, attorney of O'Hagan Meyer