Boies Schiller Flexner filed two lawsuits this week against Russell Simmons.
The firm filed a lawsuit in New York Federal Court on February 13 on behalf of a former executive at Def Jam Recordings accusing the label’s co-founder, Russell Simmons, of sexually assaulting her at his Manhattan apartment in the 1990s. Under New York’s Adult Survivors Act and Gender Motivated Violence Act, the plaintiff, known as Jane Doe, is suing Simmons for sexual battery/assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and false imprisonment. The suit also is being filed under New York City's Gender Motivated Violence Act, which created a two-year lookback window for sexual assault claims that expires in March 2025.
BSF filed a second lawsuit on February 15 against Simmons in New York State Court on behalf of another former music executive, Drew Dixon, for defamation arising from Simmons’s recent statements made in a December 2023 interview with Graham Besinger. The lawsuit details the background and underlying abuse and harassment Dixon endured in her career, including being attacked and sexually assaulted by Russell Simmons when she worked at Def Jam Records. Dixon now sues Simmons for his recent defamatory statements where he accused Dixon of lying about the sexual abuse in order to seek fame.
The team representing Jane Doe and Drew Dixon include Sigrid McCawley, Kenya Davis, Danny Crispino, and Alya Sugirin. Many media outlets covered the filings, with several quoting Sigrid and Kenya. Please see links below.
USA Today: Russell Simmons Accused of Raping, Harassing Former Def Jam Executive in New Lawsuit
Los Angeles Times: Russell Simmons Sued in Alleged Rape of Def Jam Executive in the ’90s
Fox News: Russell Simmons Sued for Alleged Rape and Sexual Assault by former Def Jam Music Executive
Billboard: Russell Simmons Sued for Alleged Rape & Sexual Assault by Former Def Jam Video Producer
Law360: Ex-Def Jam Exec Sues Russell Simmons Alleging 1990s Rape
The Independent: Russell Simmons Accused of Rape in New Lawsuit
Variety: Russell Simmons Sued for Alleged Rape of Def Jam Producer in ’90s
The Wrap: Russell Simmons Sued for Defamation Following Rape Accusations
Daily Beast: Russell Simmons Sued for Defamation by Rape Accuser
The Root: Former Def Jam Recordings Executive Drew Dixon Is Coming for Russell Simmons... Again!