Jermaine Jackson is being sued by a Los Angeles woman who claims the legendary singer sexually assaulted her in an alleged incident from 1988.
In the lawsuit obtained by People that was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Rita Butler Barrett claims she was subjected to sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual battery, negligence, and rape by the 69-year-old singer. The suit also names Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions, Inc. and Work Records, Inc. as co-defendants.
Barret says she and Jackson knew each other for years prior to the attack and that her husband, Ben Barrett, worked for Jackson’s label boss, Berry Gordy.
According to Barrett’s lawsuit, Jackson showed up to her house unannounced sometime in the spring of 1988 and forced his way inside before sexually assaulting her with “force and violence” and only left after he was “satiated.”
“During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life,” reads the lawsuit.
Barrett’s suit goes on to claim she “suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress” after the alleged incident.
Barrett also claims she went to Gordy the very next day to report the assault and he “withheld and concealed the acts” along with Jackson and “others in the business relationship” so that they can continue to make money from Jackson’s work “for years to come.” She believes the cover-up was in play to “prevent disclosure of information relating to the abuse for the purpose of profit and preservation of reputation.”
“This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others,” Barrett’s attorney Jeff Anderson said via statement.
Representatives for Jermaine Jackson have yet to respond to Barrett’s lawsuit.
