In a recent court filing, Smokey Robinson asserts that the former housekeepers accusing him of rape are manipulating the legal process to extract an exorbitant settlement from him. The Motown legend’s legal team contends that the housekeepers are intentionally dragging out the lawsuit in an effort to weaken Robinson’s defense and disrupt his ongoing tour. The 85-year-old singer vehemently denies the allegations and has countersued the women for extortion, defamation, and elder abuse.
Robinson’s attorney, Christopher Frost, claims that the housekeepers are obstructing the evidence collection process by delaying discovery proceedings. The women’s lawyer, John Harris, allegedly expressed a desire to postpone evidence gathering until after a motion to strike Robinson’s counterclaims is settled, a process that could stretch on for months. Frost argues that this tactic is a strategic move to heighten settlement pressure on Robinson, particularly impacting the profits from his international tour commemorating the 50th anniversary of his album, “A Quiet Storm.”
Frost asserts in the court filing, “Plaintiffs have effectively conceded that their intention was to file a salacious lawsuit, do nothing to prosecute it, neuter the Robinsons’ ability to defend themselves, and let the lawsuit linger publicly while the Robinsons have to live every day under the unfair specter of public opinion.” This calculated strategy aims to leverage Robinson’s livelihood as a means to coerce a favorable settlement, according to Frost.
In response, Frost is seeking a court order mandating one of the housekeepers, referred to as “Jane Doe 2,” to undergo a deposition at his Los Angeles office within two weeks of the motion’s hearing. Additionally, he is requesting the women to cover the approximately $5,000 in legal fees incurred by the Robinsons in pursuing this course of action. Frost emphasizes the need to address the housekeepers’ obstructive behavior to prevent further delays in the legal proceedings.
The housekeepers’ legal team issued a statement characterizing Robinson’s motion as a vindictive and intimidating misuse of the discovery process. The lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, condemned the selective targeting of Jane Doe 2 for deposition, labeling it as a coercive tactic that aims to intimidate a survivor of sexual violence. They denounced the motion as an abuse of power intended to dissuade other survivors from stepping forward, vowing to defend their client’s rights against any form of oppressive litigation tactics.
Apart from the civil lawsuit, the former housekeepers have also lodged a police report against Smokey Robinson, prompting an investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department into the sexual assault allegations. As the legal battle continues to unfold, the case remains a contentious and high-stakes confrontation between Robinson and his accusers.
[Editor’s Note: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources and should be interpreted as such. Legal proceedings are subject to change, and official statements from involved parties may impact the understanding of the case. It is important to approach contentious legal matters with care and attention to evolving developments.]
