A judge is denying Garth Brooks' request to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit from federal court in California. Brooks had argued the case was “duplicative” of the defamation and extortion lawsuit he previously filed against his accuser in federal court in Mississippi last September. Brooks’ attempt to have the California suit dismissed was met with criticism from the lawyers for the former hair stylist and make-up artist who alleges Brooks raped her in Los Angeles in 2019. The lawyers last month called Brooks' original Mississippi lawsuit a way “to preempt” their client’s proposed California complaint and “deny her access” to California’s anti-SLAPP statute, a law that safeguards against frivolous claims designed to muzzle someone’s right to free speech. (The woman, who sued anonymously as a Jane Roe, resides in Mississippi.)

See our original write-up here. 

photo credit: Freddie Everett/ Public Domain 

U.S. Department of State