Canterbury — Robert Noiseux has dropped his defamation lawsuit against the operators and administrator of the Canterburyweb.com Web site.

Noiseux withdrew the suit that was filed in July against residents Jennifer Hart, the administrator, and Ed and Donna Avila, the operators, from Putnam Superior Court in September and December, respectively.

Ray Parlato, the lawyer representing Noiseux, has confirmed the suits were withdrawn, but he would not say why.

“I never comment on litigation and strategy,” Parlato said last week.

A claim against a fourth defendant, resident Raymond Sulich, remains in the courts.

Noiseux claims two postings on Canterburyweb.com, “Canterbury's Un-Official Town Forum,” in January and March, 2005, defamed him and were made with malice. In one of the postings Sulich alleged that Noiseux had inappropriate financial dealings with the town and former First Selectman Paul Santoro. The second posting, made by Avila, referred to Noiseux as an idiot.

Noiseux claimed the Avilas, who operate the Web site, were liable for the statements posted there. In September, Melissa G. Melnick, one of the attorneys representing the Avilas, filed a successful motion to dismiss the claim.

Last week, Jon Berk, who is also representing the Avilas, said that the lawsuit's withdrawal is complete vindication for the Avilas.

“All they did was provide a site for the posting,” said Berk, who is an attorney at Gordon, Muir & Foley.