Jermaine Jackson, the older brother of Michael Jackson and a member of The Jackson 5, is facing a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault in 1988. The suit was filed in California under the state’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. This act permits civil suits in sexual assault cases to be filed after the statute of limitations has expired, especially in instances involving legal responsibility or a cover-up by one or more parties. The deadline for filing such suits under the act is December 31.
The plaintiff, Rita Butler Barrett, alleges that she knew Jackson through her husband’s relationship with Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. Motown Records was the label representing acts such as The Jackson 5, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.
In the lawsuit, Barrett claims that Jackson forcibly entered her home in the spring of 1988 and sexually assaulted her. She reported feeling fearful for her life during the attack and states that Jackson left immediately after the assault. Barrett contends that she reported the assault to Gordy the following day, but rather than reporting it, Gordy and others allegedly worked to cover it up.
The complaint accuses Gordy of failing to report Jackson’s acts and aiding Barrett during her time of trauma. Instead, it is alleged that Gordy withheld information and concealed the acts, further perpetuating the cover-up.
Barrett’s lawsuit, which alleges sexual battery, assault, and negligence, is filed against Jackson and his businesses, Jermaine L Jackson Music Productions Inc. and Work Records. She claims to suffer from ongoing emotional distress, fear, anxiety, humiliation, and other physical and emotional injuries as a result of the alleged assault.
The lawsuit seeks general damages, the amount of which will be determined at trial. This case emerges as part of a broader trend of historical sexual assault complaints being filed under similar acts in various states, bringing renewed attention to allegations against high-profile figures.
