Jermaine Jackson is getting another chance at defending himself against claims that he raped a session musician coordinator in 1988.
The Jackson 5 member, who has also had a prolific solo career with Billboard Hot 100 hits like “Daddy’s Home”, “Let’s Get Serious” and “Do What You Do,” was sued for sexual assault and battery in 2023. Jackson did not respond to the claims for more than two years, leading a Los Angeles judge to award a $6.5 million default judgment to accuser Rita Butler Barrett last month.
It was at this point that Jackson finally appeared in court, flatly denying the rape allegations and saying he was unaware of the case until reading media reports about the default judgment. The singer, who lives in Bahrain, argued that he did not receive legal papers served at his mother’s Encino home or via notices in the Los Angeles Times. He also noted that he changed his name to “Jermaine Jacksun” in 2013, meaning he was sued under the wrong legal name.
Judge Elaine W. Mandel credited these arguments in her Tuesday (June 30) order, obtained and first reported by Billboard, which wiped the $6.5 million judgment and restarted the litigation process.
“The failure to use Jacksun’s true legal name is fatal, compounded by plaintiff’s decision to publish in Los Angeles, while Jacksun was apparently living overseas,” wrote the judge. “The court recognizes the difficulties in locating defendants living abroad. However, choosing to publish in Los Angeles after receiving notice that Jacksun was likely abroad, and doing so with an incorrect name, leaves no choice but to void the default judgment.”
Jackson will now get another opportunity to file legal papers responding to Barrett’s lawsuit, which alleges he showed up at her Los Angeles-area home unannounced in the spring of 1988, forced his way through the door and violently raped her. A music contractor who worked with Jackson in the late 1980s, Barrett brought the case under a one-year legislative window that lifted the statute of limitations for certain sexual assault claims.
“Jermaine is adamant that he did not rape the plaintiff,” said Jackson’s lawyer, Bret Lewis, in a Tuesday statement to Billboard. “I would add that the alleged conduct is not characteristic of the Jermaine Jackson/sun that I have known for years as his long-time attorney. We intend to vigorously defend these allegations.”
Barrett’s attorneys did not immediately return a request for comment.
