Two police officers working for the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office have filed a lawsuit against Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for allegedly causing “substantial harm” to their reputations with their Netflix movie, The Rip, which they allege makes them look like “dirty cops.”
Per legal documents reviewed by Complex, officers Jason Smith and Jonathan Santana have sought to take legal action against Artists Equity, the production company founded by the frequent collaborators. Damon’s LLC production company, Falco Productions, is also named as a defendant in the defamation lawsuit. The Netflix-distributed action thriller was written and directed by Joe Carnahan and stars Damon and Affleck in the lead roles.
In the lawsuit, Smith and Santana argued that the movie presents itself as “inspired by true events” and depicts officers engaging in “criminal misconduct.”
They argued that the case featured in the movie incorporated “distinctive elements of a real law-enforcement investigation” that they participated in.
“Although the film uses fictionalized names, it unmistakably identifies the Miami-Dade Police Department,” the lawsuit reads, alleging that the case in the film also bears resemblance to the drug-money seizure case they participated in in June 2016. “Family members and colleagues have also remarked that Plaintiffs must have used seized funds to complete personal property improvements, purchase vehicles and vessels, and afford private schooling for their children.”
The pair is seeking “a public retraction and correction,” as well as “the addition of a prominent disclaimer” to the movie. They are seeking “compensatory damages, punitive damages and attorney fees.” The lawsuit has already run into a major hiccup, however, after a judge ruled that they have until Tuesday (May 12) to file an amended complaint due to several issues in the original filing.
