Jamie Foxx Denies Sexual Assault Accusations In “Frivolous” Lawsuit; Plaintiff’s Attorney Responds – 2nd Update

Bruce Haring and Nellie Andreeva
·3 min read
48
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

UPDATED 11/23 with Foxx’s statement and 11/25 with plaintiff’s attorney’s response: Jamie Foxx has hit back at a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York, in which he is accused of a sexual assault that allegedly happened in 2015.

“The alleged incident never happened. In 2020, this individual filed a nearly identical lawsuit in Brooklyn. That case was dismissed shortly thereafter,” a spokesperson for Foxx said Thursday. “The claims are no more viable today than they were then. We are confident they will be dismissed again. And once they are, Mr. Foxx intends to pursue a claim for malicious prosecution against this person and her attorneys for re-filing this frivolous action.”

More from Deadline

In the lawsuit, the 55-year-old Oscar winner (real name Eric Marlon Bishop) has been accused of placing his hands on an unidentified woman’s waist, then moving them under her top. He then allegedly began rubbing the plaintiff’s breasts, dragging her to a secluded area of the rooftop at Catch NYC & Roof, where he touched other areas of her body.

Read the complete court documents here.

The case was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which provides a one-year window for sexual assault plaintiffs to file civil claims, regardless of the statute of limitations. That window closes on Thursday and has led to a flurry of lawsuits claiming sexual assaults.

Michael S. Lamonsoff, CEO and Founder of The Law Offices of Michael S. Lamonsoff, who is representing the plaintiff, on Saturday pushed back at the claims in Foxx’s statement that the lawsuit was “frivolous” and that a nearly identical one was filed and dismissed in 2020.

“Our client and our firm will not be intimidated by Jamie Foxx’s age-old tactic of lies and threats against survivors of sexual assault. Foxx’s allegations that a ‘frivolous’ lawsuit was filed against him and dismissed in 2020 are baseless and untrue. Although our client sought justice by coming to our firm, unfortunately, the Adult Survivor’s Act (ASA) had not passed yet as deliberations were ongoing in the State legislature. Thankfully, the ASA was passed, allowing our client to demand accountability for the abuse and mental anguish she had endured since the time of this heinous assault,” Lamonsoff said.

“The ASA was passed to breathe new life into cases that had reached the statute of limitations. It has become a key tool for sexual abuse survivors to seek justice through the legal system, regardless of when the alleged abuse occurred. During the past 12 months, thousands of sexual abuse survivors have bravely come forward to hold their perpetrators accountable. This one-year claim window for survivors is insufficient. The scars from sexual abuse have no time limits. The time for change is now. There should be no statute of limitations for any form of sexual assault or abuse. Those responsible must face consequences, especially those using their celebrity status to victimize others.”

Foxx won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles in the film Ray, winning an Academy Award, BAFTA, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award.

The lawsuit claims the incident in question began when a friend of the plaintiff asked Foxx for a photo. The lawsuit said Foxx “seemed intoxicated at the time,” and said the plaintiff looked like Gabrielle Union, complimenting her on a “supermodel body” and her scent.

When Foxx escalated his alleged physical assault, court papers claim the plaintiff tried to get away. The alleged assault finally halted when the plaintiff’s friend rushed to her aid.

The plaintiff claims to have sought medical treatment and suffered pain as well as emotional distress “‘”as a result of the “sexual assault, abuse, assault and battery.”

The lawsuit names Foxx and Catch, as well as its employees, and seeks compensation and punitive damages.

to be included in your reporting.

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.