Nationwide — Russell Simmons has prevented authorized penalties after a federal choose dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit filed in opposition to him. The court docket dominated that Simmons, who has lived in Indonesia since 2018, falls exterior its jurisdiction.
The lawsuit was filed by Jane Doe, a former Def Jam govt, who claimed that Simmons raped her in his Manhattan condo within the Nineteen Nineties. She alleged that he lured her there beneath the guise of reviewing a music video, based on All Hip Hop. The case was filed beneath New York’s Grownup Survivors Act, which permits survivors of sexual abuse to hunt justice regardless of the standard cut-off dates.
Nonetheless, Simmons’ protection group argued that the lawsuit needs to be dismissed as a result of he has not lived in New York or any U.S. state for years. Choose John G. Koeltl agreed, stating that the plaintiff didn’t show that Simmons was legally domiciled in New York when the grievance was filed.
Simmons has lived in Indonesia since 2018 and obtained a everlasting retirement visa in 2021. He additionally offered his New York condo in 2021, additional solidifying his declare.
The court docket was not satisfied by the plaintiff’s proof, which included Simmons’ social media posts and occasional visits to New York. Choose Koeltl dominated that these didn’t show Simmons was domiciled within the U.S.
In his deposition, Simmons confirmed his standing, stating, “I don’t dwell in America. America’s not my residence.”
Though this lawsuit has been dismissed, Simmons nonetheless faces different authorized points, together with accusations of failing to pay practically $9 million in sexual assault settlement monies to 6 girls.
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