Why Russell Simmons’ Rape Lawsuit Was Dismissed

A federal judge in Los Angeles has dismissed Jane Doe‘s rape lawsuit filed in 2018 against Russell Simmons.

In her $10 million lawsuit filed in March 2018, the anonymous woman accused the prolific music producer of threatening and forcibly raping her in a Sacramento hotel room in 1988. Simmons denied her claims and called them a “vile” extortion attempt.

At the time, Simmons was publicly accused of sexual misconduct by 20 women.

However, Judge Mark Epstein for falling outside the statute of limitations, stating that the suit was filed at least four years too late for an incident that allegedly took place in 1988. 

According to the ruling, the statute of limitations would have expired at the latest in 2014.

Last month, Epstein had issued an order that gave the anonymous Jane Doe two weeks to file an opposition to Simmons’ motion that the case be dismissed, but Doe’s failure to file an opposition motion after Epstein gave her two weeks to respond made him rule in Simmons’ favour.

“Having received no response from Plaintiff during the two weeks following the entry of that minute order; it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that judgment is hereby entered in favor of Defendant, Russell Simmons, an individual as to Plaintiff’s entire Complaint,” the ruling said.

Simmons since “vehemently” denied all of the many sexual misconduct claims made against him.