Former record executive and producer Jimmy Iovine has had a lawsuit filed against him by a woman who has accused him of sexual misconduct.
In a complaint filed in New York state court in Manhattan, a woman identified only as ‘Jane Doe’ said she was sexually abused, forcibly touched and subject to sexual harassment and retaliation in August 2007.
A spokesperson for Iovine expressed how they were ‘quite shocked and baffled’ by the serious allegations.
‘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,’ the spokesperson said.
The female plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages for assault and battery under the Adult Survivors Act, a special New York state law letting women sue their alleged abusers even if statutes of limitations have run out.
Serious lawsuit: Jimmy Iovine, 70, is being sued by a woman who has accused him of sexual misconduct
Jane Doe is seeking damages as a result of being ‘subjected to sexual harassment and retaliation in violation of anti-discrimination laws in or around August 2007.’
While the accuser is seeking unspecified damages for assault and battery under the Adult Survivors Act, the law is slated to expire right after the upcoming U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday on Thursday, November 23.
Wednesday was the final day to file.
Doe’s legal documents state that her amount for relief will be determined at trial for, but not limited to, physical injury, economic and compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees and costs.
Back in 1989, the onetime recording engineer co-founded Interscope Records with Ted Field after securing a distribution deal with Atlantic Records following the success of such artists as No Doubt, 4 Non Blonde and Gerardo.
Within two years, Iovine and Field ended up securing a recording contract for Tupac Shakur, who was arguably among the biggest names in the hip-hop musical genre.
About a year later, Interscope became notable for providing distribution, initial funding and financial oversight for the highly successful Death Row Records. which would become a popular recording label for rappers.
By the time that December 1992 rolled around Death Row, founded by Suge Knight, operated as a subsidiary of Interscope that began with the release label artist and producer Dr. Dre’s s solo debut album, The Chronic.
Serious accusations: A woman identified only as ‘Jane Doe’ has accused Iovine, a former music executive and producer of sexual harassment and abuse in New York Supreme Court
Billionaires: Iovine is best known to fans in more recent years for his partnership with Dr. Dre on Beats Electronic, which was sold to Apple for $3 billion 2014
After branching out from his roles as a music producer and rapper, Dre partnered with Iovine in 2006 to launch Beats Electronics, a company which Apple acquired in 2014 for $3 billion.
The trial will take place in New York County, per the filing. The court summons was signed by attorneys Kevin Mintzer and Doug Wigdor.
Others sued under the law include actors Russell Brand and Bill Cosby, former movie producer Harvey Weinstein, former president Donald Trump, and hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, whose case settled after one day.
Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns N’ Roses, was sued under the law on Wednesday by Sheila Kennedy, an actress and former Penthouse Pet Of The Year, over an alleged 1989 assault, according to court documents obtained by ABC News.
Kennedy claims in court documents that Rose ‘used his fame, status, and power as a celebrity and performer in the music industry to gain access to manipulate, control, and violently sexually assault’ her.
Sheila Kennedy, a former Penthouse model and actress, filed a lawsuit in New York Supreme Court on Wednesday, accusing the musician (born William Bruce Rose Jr.) of sexually assaulting her in his hotel room after meeting him at a New York nightclub.
Breakthrough: Iovine got his big break in music recording with Bruce Springsteen in the 1970s; The Boss is pictured with Jon Landau and Iovine in November 2022
The lawsuit alleges that Rose ‘made no attempt to ask for or check that Kennedy was consenting’ and ‘treated her like property used solely for his sexual pleasure.’
The suit adds that Kennedy ‘felt she had no escape or exit and was compelled to acquiesce.’
Later in the legal document, it alleges that Kennedy ‘suffered severe emotional, physical, financial and psychological distress’ as well as ‘issues with physical and emotional intimacy.’
She is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
