BJJ Black Belt Derek Moneyberg Loses Five-Year Lawsuit Against YouTuber Spencer Cornelia
BJJ black belt Derek Moneyberg has lost a legal battle against YouTuber Spencer Cornelia after a case spanning nearly five years came to an end in early 2026. The appellate court ruling marks a win for content creators facing lawsuits from wealthy individuals attempting to silence criticism.
Derek Moneyberg’s Legal Gamble Backfires: Court Dismisses Defamation Suit Against Content Creator Spencer Cornelia
Moneyberg, whose real name is Dale Buczkowski, filed the defamation lawsuit in June 2021 after Cornelia published videos examining his business practices. The case centered on interviews Cornelia conducted with John Anthony Lifestyle (real name John Mulvehill), a dating coach who discussed his personal experiences with Moneyberg. Cornelia himself made no defamatory statements during the videos, serving instead as an interviewer.
The US District Court for the District of Nevada granted summary judgment in favor of Cornelia in September 2023, dismissing all claims. Moneyberg appealed the decision in October 2023, dragging the case through the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for an additional two years. Oral arguments took place on December 9, 2025, and the appellate court issued its ruling in late December 2025 or early January 2026.
The appellate court ruled in Cornelia’s favor, dismissing claims of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and business disparagement. The ruling also affirmed the dismissal of Lanham Act claims. The decision represents a complete victory on the merits in both courts and sets binding precedent for federal district courts within the Ninth Circuit, which includes California, Nevada, and Arizona.
Cornelia accumulated $435,000 in legal costs over the five-year period. While he won the case on summary judgment, the district court judge denied his anti-SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) motion despite acknowledging that Cornelia did not act with actual malice or reckless disregard for the truth. Under Nevada’s anti-SLAPP law, a successful motion would have guaranteed Cornelia’s recovery of attorney fees plus a $10,000 reward.
The appellate court initially dismissed the anti-SLAPP issue as moot since summary judgment had already been granted. Cornelia filed a petition for rehearing on January 8, 2026, arguing that dismissing the anti-SLAPP claim would leave poor and middle-class defendants with no access to justice against wealthy plaintiffs. The appellate court ordered Moneyberg to respond, indicating the panel of judges may rule on the anti-SLAPP motion.
Moneyberg gained attention in the combat sports world in 2025 after receiving a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt from Jake Shields in under four years, sparking controversy within the BJJ community. Most practitioners take 10 to 13 years to earn a black belt. The situation escalated when UFC fighter Sean Strickland publicly accused Moneyberg of exploiting low-paid fighters to promote financial schemes. Moneyberg announced in September 2025 that he was filing a defamation lawsuit against Strickland.
