A US judge has dismissed veteran singer Smokey Robinson's defamation claim against four former housekeepers who have accused him of sexual assault.
The women sued the Motown star, 86, last year for sexual battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and gender violence, leading to a police investigation.
Robinson denied the vile, false allegations and filed a $500m countersuit, claiming he was defamed by the women and their lawyers who characterized him as a serial and sick rapist at a press conference.
On Thursday, the judge ruled that there wasn’t sufficient clear and convincing evidence that the women made their accusations with actual malice, a standard required for defamation cases involving public figures in California.
To prove actual malice, one must demonstrate that the speaker knew the statement was false or had serious doubts about its truth.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile stated there was some evidence supporting the Robinsons, but it did not meet the standard necessary for finding actual malice.
While the defamation claim was dismissed, the judge did not fully reject Robinson's countersuit, allowing components related to emotional distress and financial elder abuse to continue.
John Harris, attorney for the unnamed accusers, described the ruling as a powerful and unequivocal victory for our clients and for survivors everywhere who refuse to be silenced.
He stated: The court saw this $500m countersuit for what it is—a blatant, retaliatory attempt to intimidate, discredit, and punish women for speaking out about sexual assault.
The women, referred to as Jane Doe in court documents, had also accused Robinson's wife of failing to act to prevent the alleged behavior.
Robinson's lawyer, Christopher Frost, argued that the ruling was incorrect, emphasizing that there is substantial evidence of actual malice from the attorneys involved and maintained that the claims made by the Jane Does are untrue and fabricated.
Since the allegations were made, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has opened a criminal investigation into the claims against Robinson, though no charges have been filed yet.
Robinson is renowned as Motown's first hitmaker, contributing to iconic tracks such as Mary Wells' My Guy and The Temptations' My Girl. He has received multiple accolades, including inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, boasting credits on over 4,000 songs.
