Australian author Hacia Atherton has filed a federal lawsuit against Florida millionaire Paul Vitale, accusing him of sexual abuse, forced labour, and human trafficking. The 71-page complaint alleges Vitale subjected Atherton to a prolonged campaign of degradation, including forcing her to wear a dog collar, participate in non-consensual sexual encounters, and watch child abuse and bestiality content on the dark web.
Meeting and initial relationship
Atherton, 38, met Vitale, 69, a retired FedEx pilot and businessman, on Millionaire Match, a dating app for wealthy individuals, in February 2025. Their first video call sparked an instant connection, leading to a long-distance romance. During their first in-person meeting, Vitale showered Atherton with gifts but also allegedly forced her to wear a collar and engage in a sexual encounter with him and another man. According to the lawsuit, Vitale told her, “This means I own you, you submit to me and do what I say,” while grabbing the collar.
Despite this disturbing start, the pair became a couple. Vitale sponsored Atherton’s work visa through his company, Allstar Consulting Services, which was approved in August 2025. This allowed her to relocate to the U.S. and move into his beachfront condo in Clearwater, Florida. However, the lawsuit claims this gave Vitale “control over her employment, housing, immigration status, and daily life.”
Escalating abuse and control
After her visa approval, Vitale became increasingly controlling, arranging more sexual encounters with other men. Atherton alleges Vitale insisted some of these men be Black, with several thanking her for what they called “reparations.” During vacations, Vitale allegedly used dating apps for swingers to arrange sexual encounters with other couples, posting photos of Atherton without her consent. He also pushed her to charge other men for sex and suggested she start an OnlyFans account.
The lawsuit details that Atherton was expected to bring Vitale to climax at least twice a day and was forced to wear degrading bondage attire at home to prove her submission. Vitale also allegedly plied her with alcohol, marijuana, nitrous oxide, and other drugs during sexual acts. On one occasion, while intoxicated, Atherton says Vitale used two large sex toys on her despite her pleas to stop, causing vaginal bleeding and significant pain. He refused to take her for medical attention.
Some encounters allegedly involved watching child abuse and bestiality content on the dark web. The complaint states that Vitale’s conduct was “not a momentary lapse in judgment but rather a prolonged, calculated campaign of abuse, degradation, and psychological torture deliberately designed to subjugate, humiliate, and destroy plaintiff’s mental and emotional well-being.”
Aftermath and legal action
Atherton ended the relationship and moved out in December 2025. Vitale then fired her from his consulting business and quickly dissolved the company, causing her visa to expire since it was tied to her employment. The lawsuit alleges Vitale launched a retaliatory campaign of harassment, defamation, and stalking online to ruin her personal and professional reputation.
Atherton, who now lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, says she suffers from PTSD, depression, disrupted sleep, anxiety attacks, hypervigilance, and persistent psychological instability. The lawsuit, filed June 22 in federal court, accuses Vitale of sex trafficking, forced labour, intentional infliction of emotional distress, cyber-harassment, stalking, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and defamation. None of the allegations have been tested in court. Atherton’s attorney, Matt Sarelson, shared the complaint on LinkedIn.
