Less than a week after Paula Abdul accused Nigel Lythgoe of sexually assaulting her twice over the past 20 years, the So You Think You Can Dance co-creator has been hit with another suit from two other women. However, unlike the action by the former American Idol judge, this latest blow against Lythgoe may not pack much legal punch.
Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.N. have filed a sexual assault/battery, sexual harassment and negligence civil suit against John Roe N.L. over an alleged attack in May 2003. While not fully named, Deadline has confirmed the John Roe N.L. is Lythgoe, who was a producer on all-female competition show All American Girl (the “AAG” of Tuesday’s suit) during its single-season run on ABC.
The incident in the jury trial-seeking complaint by the self-described All American Girl “contestants” took place after the show’s finale party, when Lythgoe allegedly drove the duo to an L.A. home instead of a promised studio to meet up with others.
Once the trio got there, the complaint claims things got ugly (read complaint here).
“Defendant N.L. made sexual advances on Plaintiff K.G and K.N. Plaintiffs rejected the advances but Defendant N.L. persisted and continued making advances,” reads the Los Angeles Superior Court filing from lawyers at LA’s Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team. “At one point, Defendant N.L. lifted his sweater over Plaintiff K.G.’s head and engulfed her in his sweater, attempting to kiss her and pushing her body close to his,” it adds. “Plaintiff K.G. again rejected the kiss and scrambled to release herself from his grasp.”
“Later that night, Defendant N.L. pinned Plaintiff K.N. against a grand piano in the house, pushed himself against her body, and forced his mouth and tongue onto her despite her numerous statements telling him not to and attempts to pull her face away from his,” the 14-page document adds. “When Plaintiff K.G. saw this and protested, Defendant N.L. finally surrendered.”
The complaint asks for a wide variety of damages.
In the context of Abdul’s detailed lawsuit of December 29 against Lythgoe of alleged assaults in Idol’s early seasons, and in 2015 while the Grammy winner was on SYTYCD, the similar claims by the two Jane Does appear to have some heft.
Unless you have a calendar.
First of all, the complaint says Jane Doe K.G. was “born in November 1997.” Safe to assume, being that the DOB would make her of kindergarten age when the assault in question occurred, that’s a mistake, but it will need to be fixed.
More significantly, just like Abdul’s complaint, the Jane Does filed their case under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which permits civil lawsuits on claims that otherwise would be time-barred by the statute of limitations.
Or rather, permitted.
The Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act expired December 31. Being that Abdul’s filing, which Lythgoe vehemently denies the truth of, occurred on December 29, the “Straight Up” singer has legal legs to move forward with against Lythgoe as well co-defendants American Idol Productions, Dance Nation Productions, 19 Entertainment and Fremantlemedia North America. However, Jane Doe K.G. and Jane Doe K.N. and their lawyers filed their action today – which puts it outside the realm of the accountability act.
Arias Sanguinetti Wang & Team attorneys did not return request for clarification or comment on the complaint or the timing. Reps for Lythgoe also did not respond to the latest accusations.
If and when either of those parties do respond, this post will be updated.