Earlier this month, 4 former staff of 85-year-old Motown veteran Smokey Robinson filed a lawsuit accusing the singer of a number of counts of rape and sexual assault. Now, Robinson has filed a countersuit in opposition to the plaintiffs, accusing them of defamation and looking for $500 million in damages.
In line with courtroom paperwork obtained by Pitchfork, Robinson additionally filed a movement to dismiss the ladies’s lawsuit on the premise that they didn’t file beneath their authorized names (the ladies filed their swimsuit anonymously). Robinson’s countersuit and movement to dismiss had been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courtroom; the previous doc accuses plaintiffs of “avarice and greed,” stating that the 4 girls are “concocting an extortionate plan to take every part from the Robinsons” in an try to wrongfully destroy the Robinsons’ well-built reputations.”
The unique lawsuit was introduced forth by a private assistant and three former housekeepers for Robinson. They allege that they had been raped and sexually assaulted by Robinson dozens of occasions at his varied houses in California and Las Vegas throughout their tenure as his staff. The criticism states that the ladies all labored for Robinson for various spans between 2006 and 2024. They’re looking for $50 million in damages.
The plaintiffs filed their lawsuit anonymously for concern of repercussions. The ladies’s legal professional, John W. Harris, mentioned in a Could 6 information convention that they’re all Hispanic girls who earn under minimal wage. “As low-wage staff in weak positions, they lacked the assets and choices needed to guard themselves from sexual assaults,” Harris advised The New York Times. The ladies additionally feared that coming ahead with the allegations would threaten their immigration standing, per the lawsuit.
Along with sexual assault, the lawsuit accuses Robinson and his spouse, Frances Robinson, of false imprisonment and a number of labor violations. Robinson’s lawyer Christopher Frost has called the allegations in opposition to his shopper “false” and “vile.”
In Robinson’s new countersuit, the singer’s authorized staff claims that plaintiffs are shut pals of the Robinsons, stating that they “stayed with the Robinsons 12 months after 12 months,” vacationed with the Robinsons, and accepted monetary assist and presents all through the years. Robinson’s criticism additionally talked about plaintiffs wishing him a cheerful birthday through textual content message, in addition to an invite to the commencement dinner of 1 plaintiff’s son.
When reached by Pitchfork, legal professionals for the 4 girls accusing Robinson of sexual assault wrote:
Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Division opened a criminal investigation into the allegations introduced forth by Robinson’s former staff.
Robinson’s attorneys provided no further remark when reached by Pitchfork.
In the event you or somebody you recognize has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to succeed in out for assist:
RAINN Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline
https://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Disaster Textual content Line
SMS: Textual content “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
