Smokey Robinson has lost his bid to put an end to the claims brought by two of the five Jane Does accusing him of sexual assault.
The Motown legend had asked a Los Angeles County judge to dismiss the claims as being too old to pursue because the to women stopped working for the Robinsons in 2020 and 2011.
Robinson mooted that the ‘revival window’ which has allowed women to resurrect historical assault claims did not extend to their separate allegations of a hostile work environment and unpaid wages.
He also argued that the women had failed to show how they were prevented from filing those labour claims within the three-year statute of limitations.
“There was systematic sexual coercion, and that would have thwarted any reasonable investigation into wage rights,” the women’s lawyer argued. “The plaintiffs have clearly stated that there was a systematic coercion for them to live under a code of silence.”
The judge ultimately sided with the women.
In a $50 million (£37 million) lawsuit filed last May, the first four Jane Does alleged they were sexually assaulted or raped repeatedly while working for Robinson and his wife, Frances, at their homes in the San Fernando Valley and Las Vegas.
The Robinsons have denied the allegations and counter-sued the women for defamation and elder abuse.
