A California court has ordered Jermaine Jackson to pay more than $6.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape after the singer reportedly failed to respond to the lawsuit or appear in court proceedings connected to the case.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Rita Butler Barrett secured a default judgment against the Jackson family member stemming from allegations she first filed in December 2023 under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. The lawsuit accused Jackson of “violently” raping her at her Encino home in the spring of 1988. Barrett claimed the alleged assault lasted several minutes before Jackson abruptly left the residence, leaving her emotionally traumatized and requiring ongoing medical treatment.
The court award reportedly includes damages, court costs, and medical expenses tied to Barrett’s claims. A default judgment is typically entered when a defendant fails to respond to legal filings or participate in court proceedings within the required timeframe.
Barrett’s legal team said they initially struggled to locate Jackson in order to formally serve him with the lawsuit. Attorneys later received court approval to notify him through a legal notice published in the Los Angeles Times, a move sometimes permitted when direct service efforts are unsuccessful.
California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act temporarily expanded the legal window for adult sexual assault survivors to file civil claims that would otherwise fall outside the statute of limitations. The law prompted a wave of lawsuits involving decades-old allegations across the entertainment industry.
Jackson, a founding member of the Jackson family music dynasty and older brother of Michael Jackson, has not publicly responded to the ruling. TMZ reported that attempts to reach his representatives for comment were unsuccessful.
