A Hawaii jury has awarded $56 million in damages to three Canadians following a defamation lawsuit against spiritual teacher Liana Shanti. The verdict follows allegations that Shanti conducted a relentless online hate campaign against the plaintiffs.
The December 2022 migration to Jacksonville's "Destiny Manor"
Liana Shanti, whose legal name is Liane Wilson, allegedly used spiritual influence to convince dozens of Canadians to relocate to Florida. as reported by CTV News' W5 investigative unit, Shanti characterized Canada as an "oppressive state" and a "danger zone" during the COVID-19 pandemic. This rhetoric prompted sixteen individuals from the Regina, Saskatchewan area to move to a property in Jacksonville nicknamed "Destiny Manor."
Followers like Riley Lawson and Amanda Brady described a high-pressure environment where Shanti's influence was pervasive.. The W5 investigation notes that Shanti discouraged members from communicating on any digital platforms that she did not personally control, creating an isolated community.
Allegations of Satanism and child abuse in the Honolulu verdict
The $56 million judgment stems from a targeted online campaign directed at three Canadians connected to former members of the Shanti community. In Honolulu,a civil jury found that Shanti defamed these individuals by labeling them "Satanists," "pedophile supporters," and "child abusers."
These accusations were part of what former members described as a vindictive pattern of behavior. Riley Lawson alleged that after she left the group, Shanti engaged in doxxing and spread false claims that Lawson was being pursued by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The emotional toll on families like Wade Martin's
The movement of followers to Florida resulted in significant personal upheaval, including the separation of families.. Wade Martin, the ex-husband of former student Amanda Brady, expressed the profound sense of loss experienced when children were taken across the American border without paternal consent.
Martin described the four-year period of separation from his daughters as time that "no amount of money can ever get back." While he noted that Shanti held an "overwhelming influence" over Brady , the social and legal consequences of the move to Destiny Manor left lasting scars on the family unit.
Shanti's plan to challenge the $56 million judgment
Liana Shanti has indicated that she does not accept the jury's decision and intends to pursue an appeal . In an email to W5, Shanti claimed her legal team is highly confident that "serious errors of law" occurred during the proceedings, which could lead to a new trial.
Despite the massive financial penalty, several questions remain regarding the ultimate resolution of this case. It is currently unknown if Shanti possesses the liqiud assets to satisfy a $56 million judgment, or how the appellate process will handle the specific claims of defamation. Furthermore, the investigation leaves open the question of whether Shanti's online behavior will shift or intensify following the legal setback.
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