Court Mandates Mediation by November 10 in Logan Paul-Coffeezilla Defamation Case

A court-ordered mediation is set to take place by November 10, 2025, between internet personality Logan Paul and investigative YouTuber Stephen Findeisen, known as Coffeezilla. The mediation aims to resolve a defamation lawsuit filed by Paul against Findeisen, stemming from Coffeezilla's exposé on Paul's failed CryptoZoo NFT project. This development follows a judge's decision in September to pause the case for settlement discussions.

The legal dispute originated after Coffeezilla released a three-part series in December 2022, alleging that CryptoZoo was a "rug pull" and that Paul had misled investors. Paul initially threatened legal action against Coffeezilla, claiming defamation. Coffeezilla recently highlighted the ongoing situation, tweeting, "Good writeup about the lawsuit so far: [link]," referring to discussions around the case's progress.

Separately, a class-action lawsuit filed against Logan Paul concerning the CryptoZoo project was dismissed in late October 2025. A U.S. magistrate judge found insufficient evidence to directly link Paul to the alleged misconduct in that case, effectively clearing him of those specific charges. However, this dismissal does not impact the defamation suit Paul brought against Coffeezilla.

Legal experts, such as those from LegalBytes, have explained that the court's mandate for mediation is a common step in civil litigation, providing an opportunity for parties to reach a settlement before trial. Coffeezilla has publicly stated his belief that Paul's defamation lawsuit is "baseless" and a tactic to "crush new investigations" into Paul's other ventures, including Liquid Marketplace.

A key aspect of Coffeezilla's defense against defamation would involve demonstrating he acted without "actual malice," meaning he did not knowingly publish false information or act with reckless disregard for the truth. His prior communications with the FBI and SEC regarding CryptoZoo could serve as evidence of his sincerity and reasonable belief in his claims. The outcome of the mediation, whether a settlement is reached or the case proceeds, remains uncertain, with emotional factors potentially influencing the parties' willingness to compromise.