Russell Simmons just scored a legal victory as a federal judge dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit against him. The ruling was based on Simmons’ “stateless” American citizen status, making it impossible for the court to claim jurisdiction over him.
The lawsuit, filed by Jane Doe, a former Def Jam executive, alleged that Simmons raped her in his Manhattan apartment in the 1990s under the guise of reviewing a music video. The case was part of the Adult Survivors Act, a temporary New York law that allowed survivors to file claims beyond the usual statute of limitations.
Simmons, who has been living in Bali, Indonesia, where there is no extradition treaty with the U.S., has repeatedly denied the accusations. His move abroad now appears to have protected him from facing legal consequences in this case.
