Kenneth Petty, the husband of Nicki Minaj, is required to mediate with Jennifer Hough, the woman who accused him of rape.
Judge James R. Cho referred the case to mediation on Tuesday after Hough sued Petty for inflicting emotional distress, harassment, and witness intimidation last year.
“The case is referred to Court-annexed mediation,” the court noted. “Parties are to select a mediator by 12/20/2022 and complete mediation by 3/6/2023. Parties may participate in the mediation remotely.”
It added, “Parties shall file a joint status report two weeks after completing the mediation, but no later than 3/20/2023, whichever date is earlier.”
Both parties will engage in “limited written discovery that would facilitate settlement negotiations.” The case will go to trial if a settlement cannot be reached.
On Tuesday, the court announced the case’s pretrial schedule, by January 9, 2023, automatic disclosures must be exchanged, and all discovery, including expert depositions, had to be complete by September 5, 2023.
Both Petty and his wife, Nicki Minaj, were facing lawsuits by Hough, claiming they intimidated, harassed, and threatened her to make her recant her rape allegations against him.
However, Hough withdrew her claims against Nicki Minaj earlier this year, Petty continues to be named in the case as a defendant.
In July, Petty was sentenced by a judge to one year of home confinement and three years of probation for failing to register as a sex offender in 2021.
Currently, Petty is suing the State of New York and the Division of Criminal Justice Services over his status as a sex offender. Oral arguments in the case begin on January 6, 2023.
