Smokey Robinson files defamation suit against sexual assault accusers
In response to sexual assault allegations by four former housekeepers, Motown singer Smokey Robinson and his wife Frances Wednesday sued his accusers for alleged defamation. Robinson is under criminal investigation for sexual assault and denies the allegations. File Photo by Howard Shen/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- Smokey Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson, filed a defamation suit against a group of women who have accused him of sexual assault.
The cross-complaint suit claims the sexual assault allegations by four former housekeepers, filed on May 6, were "fabricated" in order to support an "extortionate scheme."
The suit contends that the Robinsons did not harm or abuse the former housekeepers and seeks to force the women who filed their suit using "Jane Doe" names to be publicly identified.
It also alleges they first demanded $100 million before filing the suit.
"When the Robinsons resisted the extortionate demands, plaintiffs filed this lawsuit," attorney Christopher Frost wrote.
The suit further alleges that John Harris, an attorney for the housekeepers, and his firm Harris and Hayden, defamed Robinson by referring to the singer as a "serial and sick rapist" who must be stopped.
Harris and Hayden said in a Wednesday statement they will file a motion to strike down Robinson's suit based on California's law on "strategic lawsuits against public participation," or SLAPP.
The law was designed to prevent harassing lawsuits filed by wealthy celebrities and corporations intended to silence free speech and intimidate accusers.
To succeed in legally striking down a SLAPP lawsuit, defendants must show they are being sued for "any act ... in furtherance of the person's right of petition or free speech under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue."
"The cross-complaint ... is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward," lawyers for the women accusing Robinson said in a statement to USA Today.
The women accusing Robinson alleged in their suit that Robinson committed sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, and gender violence for years.
On May 15, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced Robinson is under criminal investigation for sexual assault.
Robinson has denied the allegations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
41 minutes ago
- UPI
Sabrina Carpenter releases summer single 'Manchild'
1 of 5 | Sabrina Carpenter released a single and music video for "Manchild" Friday. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 6 (UPI) -- Sabrina Carpenter is back with a new music video. The pop singer, 26, released a video for her song "Manchild" on Friday. The video opens with a seagull perched on a turtle meandering through a desert landscape. Carpenter hitches a ride, goes rollerblading while clinging to a truck, plays pool with a shotgun, and takes a bath with pigs. "Manchild, why you always come running to me?" she sings as she navigates several odd and precarious situations. "I swear they choose me. I'm not choosing them. Amen," she sings. On Instagram, she said that the song was created shortly after she dropped her album Short n' Sweet. "Not only was it so fun to write," she said. "But this song became to me something I can look back on what will score the mental montage to the very confusing and fun young adult years of life. It sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll, and it feels like a never-ending road trip in the summer!" "Hence, why I wanted to give it to you now -- so you can stick your head out the car window and scream it all summer long!" she added.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
David Beckham to receive Knighthood from King Charles
June 6 (UPI) -- Soccer icon David Beckham will be awarded knighthood next week as part of King Charles' birthday festivities. Sources told the BBC, Sky Sports and The Times about the plan Thursday night. Beckham, 50, will take on the title of Sir, while his wife, Victoria Beckham, will be known as Lady Beckham. Beckham, who has long served as an ambassador for the King's Foundation and UNICEF, was first nominated for knighthood in 2011. The Inter Miami co-owner, who retired from soccer in 2013, was appointed as an OBE -- Order of the British Empire -- in 2003. Beckham appeared in 115 games for the England men's national team. He was captain during 59 of those appearances. He is the only English men's player to score at three different World Cups. Beckham also won six Premier League crowns while at Manchester United before starring at Real Madrid and moving to the MLS to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He later spent time with AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. King Charles, 76, was born Nov. 14, 1948, but will celebrate his official birthday at June's traditional Trooping the Color ceremony.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Patterson questioned about intentions, feelings for poisoned victims
June 6 (UPI) -- The prosecution in the Erin Patterson mushroom murder meal trial went another round with Patterson Friday to prove she purposely invited her estranged husband Simon's family over to her house for a meal in order to kill them. Patterson has maintained that she asked Simon's parents Don and Gail Patterson, and his aunt and uncle Heather and Ian Wilkinson, over for that meal, a lunch of beef Wellington, to her home in Australia in August of 2023 to tell them about a cancer diagnosis. She has since admitted she misled them about having cancer but instead had really invited them to her home to discuss her plans to have weight-loss surgery. Don and Gail died later that week, as did Heather, from the ingestion of poisonous death cap mushrooms, which prosecutors allege Erin purposely put in their lunch. Ian was sickened and hospitalized but survived. Prosecutor Nanette Rogers alleged in her opening statement Friday that Patterson did not consume death cap mushrooms at the lunch, but pretended to have been sickened as a cover-up and that was "why we say she was reluctant to receive medical treatment for death cap mushroom poisoning." Rogers put forth to Patterson that she not only had allegedly invited the victims over to kill them with a death cap-laced meal, but had furthermore prepared an extra poisoned meal in case Simon, who had declined his invitation to dine that day, changed his mind and came to eat. Patterson testified Tuesday that she had only eaten a small portion of the beef Wellington lunch because she was deep in conversation and later had vomited up the food because she also ate cake and has a history of binging and purging. Patterson also testified that she went to the hospital after the meal but discharged herself against medical advice, which prosecutors used to suggest that she was not sickened by the food. The prosecution then alleged Patterson purposely didn't feed the poisoned meal to her kids, which was why she didn't have them medically assessed. Rogers also mentioned messages Patterson allegedly sent to her Facebook friends, and to Don, Gail and Simon. "You had two faces, a public face of appearing to have a good relationship with Don and Gail," she said to Patterson. "I suggest your private face was the one you showed in your Facebook message group." Rogers went back through messages Patterson ostensibly wrote about Don and Gail, which were laced with expletives and allegedly mentioned she wanted "nothing to do" with them. She also suggested that Patterson had not shown any concern for Simon's parents, never asking how they felt after learning they were initially sickened. "Incorrect," Patterson said. Rogers then asked, "And you never asked how Heather was going, and I assume you disagree?" "Correct," Patterson replied. Patterson has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder and one of attempted murder in the case. She will take the stand again Tuesday.
