A federal choose in New York has dominated that former Arista Data A&R government Drew Dixon might proceed searching for damages over commissions she says she misplaced when music government Antonio “L.A.” Reid refused to signal Ye, previously often known as Kanye West, and John Legend to the label.
Billboard studies that the choice, issued Thursday by U.S. District Choose Jeannette A. Vargas, preserves a part of Dixon’s 2023 lawsuit because it heads to trial Sept. 8. Dixon alleges Reid sexually harassed her repeatedly, then forcibly kissed and groped her twice in 2001. She says the alleged conduct triggered extreme emotional misery and derailed her profession.
In accordance with court docket filings, Dixon claims Reid retaliated after she rejected his advances by declining to signal two artists she had championed. She alleges Reid publicly dismissed Ye’s audition as a “waste of his time” in entrance of Arista’s A&R workers and did not attend Legend’s audition. Dixon says the selections value her substantial future earnings. Neither artist is accused of wrongdoing.
Drew Dixon Sexual Assault Case Towards L.A. Reid
Reid has denied all allegations. His attorneys sought to dam claims associated to the 2 artists, arguing they have been barred by the statute of limitations. Choose Vargas disagreed, citing New York’s Grownup Survivors Act, which quickly permits older sexual assault claims to proceed. She mentioned Dixon might pursue the damages for now, although she cautioned {that a} jury might in the end reject them.
The case comes throughout a turbulent interval for Reid, who left Epic Data in 2017 after being accused of sexually harassing a feminine assistant. He later launched HitCo and co-founded the music enterprise Mega with Usher.
Reid’s authorized state of affairs has worsened in latest weeks. His lawyer, Shawn Holley, withdrew from the case, citing unpaid charges and a breakdown in communication. With trial lower than a month away, Reid should safe new counsel, symbolize himself or threat a default judgment.
Dixon can also be amongst a number of girls who’ve accused Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons of sexual assault, claims he denies. The 2 stay locked in defamation litigation.
The trial is anticipated to revisit a formative second in early-2000s music whereas testing how the business handles long-standing allegations in opposition to its strongest figures.
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