Jimmie Allen has been ordered to pay $1.8 million (£1.36 million) to a woman who sued him over accusations that he sexually assaulted and secretly filmed her in a Las Vegas hotel room.
Judge Aleta A Trauger ruled on Thursday 18 June that the country star be held liable by default for assault and invasion of privacy in August after he ignored multiple court deadlines.
In a court order, the Big Shot singer was told to pay the accuser $597,000 (£452,000) in compensatory damages and another $1.2 million (£910,000) in punitive damages.
“The evidence shows that Mr Allen intentionally and surreptitiously filmed his sexual encounter with plaintiff without her consent,” the court report reads. “These intentional acts caused plaintiff to suffer extreme emotional distress and trauma.”
In a statement to Billboard, a lawyer for the plaintiff, known as Jane Doe 2, said the sum “recognises the profound trauma Allen inflicted on Jane Doe 2 for his own sexual gratification” and “underscores a fundamental principle at the heart of this case: it is never acceptable to record sexual activity without a partner’s consent”.
Thursday’s ruling came in one of two civil sexual assault lawsuits brought against Allen in 2023, derailing the singer’s promising career after a run of No. 1 hits on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart.
He was subsequently dropped by his label, BBR Music Group, as well as his booking agency, publicist and management company.
Allen has denied the claims against him.
