'Mr. Malibu' Issues Retraction, Pepperdine Withdraws Libel Suit

Pepperdine University has withdrawn a lawsuit against viedographer "Mr. Malibu" that was initially filed over his claims that the school was responsible for tainted storm water from a Los Angeles County facility.

Cary ONeal issued a retraction over the weekend, stating: "I have been advised, and believe, that the county did not discharge sewage or sewage effluent from Malibu Mesa onto a Malibu beach on March 25, 2012."

In exchange for the retraction, which was sent to local media, including Malibu Patch, Pepperdine agreed to dismiss the lawsuit.

"I have apologized to Pepperdine for any harm caused by my statements and I am grateful that Pepperdine has agreed to dismiss the lawsuit it filed against me," ONeal said in the letter.

The libel suit was over two videos uploaded by Cary ONeal, who blogs as "Mr. Malibu," to his Facebook page and YouTube channel.

In the first video, ONeal showed footage of water runoff during a storm and shots of the Malibu Mesa Water Reclamation Facility, which is used to treat sewage from Pepperdine University. The video also showed frothy water coming out of the Marie Canyon Creek storm drain, stating "dumping recalls third world open ditch sewers."

ONeal, 56, posted another, four-minute video, "Malibu, California, USA – Luxury Beach Homes of Adam Sandler, Tom Hanks, David Duchovny and Pink Under Siege." Both videos were taken down because of the lawsuit.

Shortly after ONeal posted the video, Pepperdine issued a cease-and-desist order, putting forth that the Malibu Mesa treatment plant is controlled by the Los Angeles County Public Works Department. The university also said that there was no record at LA Public Works of dumping sewage or reclaimed water on March 25, according to the lawsuit.