A high-stakes legal battle has erupted over allegations of defamation involving a major player in the tech investment world. The plaintiffs, SIU Holdings Limited, Axis Capital Partners Limited, and Ever Trump Investment Limited, have filed a complaint against Pouya Taaghol in the Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara on October 17, 2025. The plaintiffs accuse Taaghol of disseminating false and defamatory statements that have severely damaged their reputations.
The plaintiffs are Hong Kong-based entities and significant investors in Big Data Federation, Inc., holding substantial interests in preferred stock. They allege that Pouya Taaghol, who is a director and officer at Big Data Federation, Inc., published emails containing false accusations about them to other investors and stakeholders. On June 2, 2025, Taaghol allegedly sent an email claiming that the company’s accounts were compromised from Asia and suggested criminal activity linked to Asian investors. He further escalated these claims by implying ongoing investigations by U.S. authorities such as the FBI and SEC/FINRA into these alleged breaches.
The complaint states that these communications were not only false but also racially charged, trading on harmful stereotypes about Asian individuals being involved in espionage or intellectual property theft. Plaintiffs argue that Taaghol’s statements were made with actual malice and reckless disregard for the truth. They assert that there was no data breach or investigation as claimed by Taaghol; instead, they believe he fabricated these stories to damage their reputations due to personal grievances related to their status as preferred shareholders.
The plaintiffs are seeking several forms of relief from the court: damages for harm to their reputation and business interests, punitive damages due to the malicious nature of the defamation, and a formal retraction and apology from Taaghol to all affected parties. They emphasize that this lawsuit is necessary to restore their standing within the investment community and among stakeholders at Big Data Federation.
Representing the plaintiffs is Michelle L. Landry from Vedder Price (CA), LLP. The case is presided over by Judge Y. Chavez under Case No. 25CV477954.
Source: 25CV477954_SIU_holdings_v_Pouya_Taaghol_Complaint_County_of_Santa_Clara_California.pdf
