Guns N’ Roses singer Axl Rose, actor Jamie Foxx and New York City mayor Eric Adams have been accused of sexual assault as a legislation which permits historic lawsuits is about to run out.
A former Penthouse journal mannequin sued Rose, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in a New York City lodge room in 1989.
Sheila Kennedy, 61, filed the lawsuit within the State Supreme Court in Manhattan below New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which lets victims sue over assaults that occurred a long time in the past. The legislation expires on Friday.
More than 2,500 lawsuits have been filed to date below the act.
Many of the lawsuits have focused people, employers or establishments, accusing them of not doing sufficient to cease abuse.
But the overwhelming majority have been filed in opposition to the state, New York City and native counties and contain allegations of abuse at state prisons and native jails.
Ms Kennedy alleged Rose violently attacked her 34 years in the past, which resulted in a prognosis of “anxiety and depression”.
She stated Rose used his “fame, status, and power” as a music star to “gain access to manipulate, control, and violently sexually assault” her, the lawsuit claims.
Attorney Alan S Gutman stated in an announcement on behalf of Rose: “Simply put, this incident never happened. Notably, these fictional claims were filed the day before the New York state filing deadline expires.
“Though he would not deny the potential for a fan picture taken in passing, Mr Rose has no recollection of ever assembly or talking to the plaintiff, and has by no means heard about these fictional allegations previous to in the present day. Mr Rose is assured this case might be resolved in his favour.”
Explained:
Why have so many celebrities been accused suddenly?
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New York City mayor accused of 1993 assault
Mayor Eric Adams has been accused of sexually assaulting a lady 30 years in the past.
Adams, a Democrat, was a New York City police officer who rose to the rank of captain earlier than getting into politics. He served as a state senator and Brooklyn borough president earlier than changing into mayor.
Details of the alleged assault in New York haven’t been launched.
The authorized motion, filed on the state Supreme Court in Manhattan, seeks a trial and $5m (£4m) in aid.
A City Hall spokesman stated in an announcement: “The mayor does not know who this person is. If they ever met, he doesn’t recall it. But he would never do anything to physically harm another person and vigorously denies any such claim.”
Hollywood star accused of 2015 assault
Jamie Foxx was additionally sued below the act on Wednesday by a lady who accused the Hollywood star of sexual assaulting her at a New York rooftop lounge in 2015.
The lawsuit alleges Foxx made feedback corresponding to “wow, you have that super model body” whereas at Catch NYC and rooftop, earlier than later grabbing the girl by the arm and pulling her to the “secluded” again of the rooftop.
She alleged there was “heinous touching and sexual assault” which has resulted in “severe emotional distress and anxiety” in addition to post-traumatic stress dysfunction.
The lady, recognized solely as Jane Doe in court docket paperwork, can also be suing Catch NYC and its proprietor Mark Birnbaum, alleging they have been “negligent” and “failed to use reasonable care to prevent the acts described” within the lawsuit.
A spokesperson for Foxx has been approached for remark.
The allegations in opposition to Rose, Adams and Foxx are the most recent in a string of lawsuits filed below New York’s expiring Adult Survivors Act.
On Tuesday, American author and filmmaker A.M. Lukas accused White Lines actor Nuno Lopes of drugging and raping her in 2006.
Lopes denied any wrongdoing and stated he wouldn’t be afraid to take authorized motion in opposition to anybody who tried to defame him.
Several lawsuits filed earlier than legislation expires
Also on Tuesday a lady accused Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually abusing her after providing to mentor her in her appearing profession – becoming a member of greater than 60 ladies who’ve accused him of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment.
He has denied all allegations involving intercourse crimes.
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A spokesperson for Cosby, 86, declined to remark however urged the historic home windows in place for these lawsuits in New York and elsewhere must be closed as a result of they have been getting used to focus on rich celebrities, asking: “When is it going to stop?”
Photographer Terry Richardson, who was successfully blacklisted by the style world in 2017 after a number of rape and sexual assault allegations, had a brand new lawsuit filed in opposition to him on Tuesday by Spanish mannequin Minerva Portillo.
Meanwhile, music trade veteran Jimmy Iovine was sued by a lady who claims she was sexually abused, forcibly touched and topic to sexual harassment and retaliation in August 2017.
A spokesperson for Iovine stated they have been “quite shocked and baffled” by the alleged declare, including: “This inquiry is the first we’ve heard of this matter. No one has ever made a claim like this against Jimmy Iovine, nor have we been contacted or made aware of any complaint by anyone, including this unknown plaintiff prior to now.”
Oscar-winning actor sued by two ladies
Also on Wednesday Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr was sued by two ladies whose sexual assault accusations in opposition to the star shaped the idea of a felony prosecution that ended with him pleading responsible in April 2022 however serving no jail time.
Lawyers who’ve represented Gooding in civil and felony litigation over his alleged sexual misconduct didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Others who’ve been sued below the legislation embrace Russell Brand, former film producer Harvey Weinstein, former US president Donald Trump and hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs – whose case was settled after in the future.
Source: information.sky.com”