Tommy Lee Wins Sex Assault First Ruling

Tommy Lee, the drummer for Motley Crue, was involved in a major legal struggle in December after a woman known only as Jane Doe accused him of sexual assault. The plaintiff alleges that on a 2003 helicopter flight with Lee and pilot David Martz, she was the target of unwelcome advances and abuse. The woman claims that Lee grabbed and forcedly kissed her, eventually exposing himself and abusing her more while they were in flight.

But in a recent turn of events, a California judge rejected Lee’s claim on procedural grounds. The Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act was used to bring the original lawsuit, which requires proof of a concerted attempt to hide the attack. Because the plaintiff’s claim recognized Lee’s well-known actions at the time, Lee’s defense effectively claimed that the claim contradicted itself and that a cover-up was unlikely.

“In this case, the plaintiff herself recognized Mr. Lee’s public persona, which undermines the notion of a cover-up,” stated A. Sasha Frid, Lee’s lawyer, highlighting the pivotal argument in their defense.

Even though Lee has won this lawsuit, it is far from finished. Within 20 days, the plaintiff has the option to revise her case. To proceed with the case under the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, it is necessary to provide additional claims that show a deliberate attempt to hide Lee’s activities. However, the plaintiff’s inability to present enough proof of a cover-up begs concerns about how the lawsuit will proceed in the future. Frid continued in a statement to Rolling Stone:

“We applaud the court’s decision.
“From the outset, Mr. Lee has vehemently denied these false and bogus accusations.”