Chrisoula "Crystal" Workman, the mother of "Modern Family" actress Ariel Winter, sued one of her daughter's business associates for alleged defamation on Monday, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The defamation suit is against Matthew Borlenghi - an actor who works for her older daughter Shanelle Gray - for an online comment he made in regards to a Nov. 9 blog post on The Los Angeles Times website. In his comment, he called Workman an "abusive monster." 

Workman stated in her suit that the actor holds "personal animosity, hatred and ill will" against her. She claimed that the offensive comment left her feeling "shame, mortification and hurt feeling." The Los Angeles Times was not named in the suit.

Borlenghi repotedly wrote that when Workman said she stopped Winter, 14, from having sex with an 18-year-old man, her statements were "total falsehood."

"The mother is grasping and clawing to find a way not to lose her money-maker, and hide the fact that she is an abusive monster," Borlenghi wrote. "Having spent time with her, and seeing the way she acted adoringly towards the boy, these accusations are disgusting, just as she is."

The Workman's lawsuit includes statements from her family and business associates noting that as eyewitnesses, they have never seen signs of Workman absuing her daughter. Winter's pediatrician reportedly wrote that he had never seen "any evidence of an abusive relationship in regards to Ariel." 

The LA Times article revealed that authorities were investigating if Workman had physically and emotionally abused her daughter. A judge said preliminary investigation had given enough reason for Winters to be taken away from her mother and temporary custody was granted to Winter's older sister, Shanelle Gray, 34, according to the Reporter. Workman was ordered to stay 100 yards away from her younger daughter after the court ruling in October, according to TMZ.

Gray will learn if she has permanent custody of her younger sister at a trial that is set to begin on Wednesday, Dec. 12.

Tags: Ariel Winter modern family