Judge Denies Russell Simmons’ Request To Dismiss Rape Lawsuit, Despite His Claim Of Extortion

Russell Simmons’ request to have his rape lawsuit tossed has been denied by a judge and now he’s on a deadline to respond to the initial suit. 

Earlier this month, a woman, identified as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against the music mogul, claiming he raped her in 1988 after a Def Jam concert she attended with her adolescent son. In legal docs obtained by the Blast, Doe said Simmons invited her to an after party at a nearby hotel, in which she went after she dropped off her son. 

According to Doe, when the two got to the hotel room, she said Simmons closed the door and threatened to “f*ck” her. But, when she declined, she said he replied, “I’m going to f*ck you or I’m going to f*ck your son. You decide,” and then proceeded to rape her. 

Twenty years later, she filed a lawsuit, demanding $10 million in damages. In response, Simmons accused the woman of filing for “purposes of publicity, which this case has garnered” and categorized the legal attack as an attempt to “extort large sums of money.” 

He also filed docs to have the lawsuit dropped over the statute of limitations, adding that Doe failed to provide a specific date of the alleged attack. However, a judge has since denied his request. 

On Wednesday, an L.A. judge denied Simmons’ plea to dismiss, and instead ordered Simmons to respond to the allegations within 20 days. According to the blast, the judge claimed the mogul’s argument that the woman did not provide a specific date of the alleged incident was irrelevant. In fact, according to the blast, the judge said “the elements of the three claims (forcible rape, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress) do not require a date of the incident.” 

Simmons is due back in court next month.