A judge in California said no to a sexual assault case against Tommy Lee, but it’s not finished yet.
The drummer shared the news of Rolling Stone titled ‘Tommy Lee Wins Round In Helicopter Sexual Assault Lawsuit’ on his official Instagram account but wrote nothing in the caption. The judge gave Jane Doe 20 days to fix her complaint. It needs to have new facts about hiding evidence that Lee sexually hurt her in a helicopter in 2003.
The judge agreed with Tommy’s lawyer. They said the law used by Jane Doe doesn’t apply to old claims. According to this law, called the Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, plaintiffs must prove that a group worked together to hide evidence of their assault. The time limit for filing claims under this law ended on December 31, 2023.
Other Details Of The Case
Lee’s lawyer, A. Sasha Frid, told the court that Jane Doe mentioned in her first complaint that Lee was already well-known for his wild behavior when the alleged helicopter incident happened. His lawyer added:
“That would obviate any ability for a coverup. You can’t have a coverup when the plaintiff alleges that this alleged ‘salacious’ conduct was known to everybody.”
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie said in reply:
“The court had its own questions about that. However, this is officially our first look at the pleading, and we will almost always grant one opportunity to amend.”
The Lawsuit Is On Hold Right Now
The judge said Jane Doe didn’t provide enough proof for her cover-up claim and questioned if she can prove a company covered for Lee in 2003. Lee’s company was said to be suspended in 2002, but Jane Doe says it was still active. The judge put the lawsuit on hold until Jane Doe submits a new complaint. If the new complaint doesn’t fix the issues, the court might dismiss it permanently.
In her lawsuit, Jane Doe said she was tricked onto a helicopter ride by pilot David Martz in 2003, thinking it was a sightseeing trip. Lee joined them later. During the flight, Lee allegedly assaulted her, kissing, groping, and attempting oral sex. Martz supposedly did nothing to stop it. Jane Doe didn’t report it for a long time because she felt hopeless due to Lee’s fame.
You can see Lee’s post below.