A Virginia federal judge allowed two identical defamation suits filed by electronic pull tabs provider Grover Gaming to move forward against its competitor’s employees, who allegedly made false statements about Grover’s business operations being under “serious state investigation.”

Grover, which is licensed to manufacture and supply games by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, filed similar lawsuits against two employees of its competitor, Powerhouse Gaming Inc., alleging that the employees made comments that Grover operated its business illegally, shorted players and charities, and was under investigation by Virginia.