Haymarket bar owner, accused of sexual assault, finds 'rape van' painted on his vehicle

A downtown bar owner says his vehicle has been vandalized twice and he's been assaulted once since he was publicly accused of rape last fall.

Matthew Landan, the owner of Haymarket Whiskey Bar, has filed four police reports since Nov. 30 in which he claims people threw food on him at a bourbon tasting event, smashed his van's windshield and wrote "rape van" in red paint across the vehicle's side.

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Police are still investigating the incidents, but Landan asserts they are related to the rape accusations that began spreading across social media in November.

That month, a Facebook user posted a meme with a photograph of Landan and a text overlay that said: "MATTHEW LANDAN IS A RAPIST." The original poster detailed her allegations against Landan in comments beneath the post, and another woman added that she suspected him of drugging her drink.

On Nov. 29, Landan filed a defamation lawsuit against the two Facebook users and two of his former employees, accusing the four of defaming him and damaging his business.

The day after the lawsuit was filed, Landan made his first report with Louisville Metro Police, claiming someone threatened him on Facebook. No details of the threat were included.

Landan filed his second police report on Jan. 31, claiming someone caused $1,000 worth of damage by smashing his van's windshield and two of its windows.

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The third and fourth police reports were filed over the weekend. In them, Landan claims someone painted "rape van" on his vehicle and someone poured food on him at a bourbon tasting.

In a written statement, Landan said he has worked to clear his name through the legal system and by rebuilding his bar, which he temporarily closed in response to the allegations.

"I have made progress in returning my life back to normal," Landan said in the statement, "but for each step forward I have taken, I have been met with what can be best described as retaliatory actions taken by thuggish and cowardly individuals.

"Despite the attacks and harassment, I am not going away. The Haymarket Whiskey Bar is not going out of business. Through all legal means, I will fight to clear my name and return the Haymarket Whiskey Bar to its previous prominence and success."

A hearing for Landan's lawsuit is scheduled for April 18. It's expected to address motions made in two countersuits filed by Landan's former employees and the woman who said he drugged her.

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In the first countersuit, former Haymarket employees Eric Snider and Christopher Maggio say Landan is abusing the legal system to seek "vengeance and suppression" against the women who accused him of sexual assault.

In the second countersuit, a Louisville woman accuses Landan of committing criminal assault and wanton endangerment when he placed unknown drugs in a drink he served her at his bar on Market Street.

Courier Journal has not named either of the women included in the lawsuit because it does not identify people who say they are victims of sexual harassment or assault.

As of now, the woman who accused Landan of rape on Facebook has not responded to the lawsuit. Court documents show she was served notice of the lawsuit in late February and was given 20 days to respond.

Both women named in Landan's lawsuit previously denied Courier Journal reporters' requests for interviews and said they were not ready to share their stories. Sexual violence is historically underreported and there are a number of reasons why an assault survivor might choose not to come forward.

Bailey Loosemore: 502-582-4646; bloosemore@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @bloosemore. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/baileyl.