Judge dismisses assault lawsuit against T.I. and Tiny Harris

A California federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against T.I. and his wife, Tiny Harris, which accused them of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2005.

U.S. District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett granted a motion from Clifford Harris Jr. (T.I.) and Tameka Harris (Tiny) to dismiss the case. However, the judge allowed the alleged victim, referred to as Jane Doe, to file an amended complaint as requested by her legal team last month.

Jane Doe’s lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Jan. 2, claimed that after meeting the couple in the VIP section of a nightclub, she was given a spiked drink and taken to their hotel room, where T.I. and Tiny allegedly forced her to get naked and sexually assaulted her. T.I. and Tiny Harris have denied these allegations.

“The court agreed with Tip and Tameka that Jane Doe doesn’t appear to have any viable claims,” said a representative for the couple to AllHipHop. “As Tip and Tameka stated three years ago, these allegations are some of the many false, salacious claims thrown into the media in an attempt to extort money from them.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Doe’s attorneys for comments.

At the end of March, the couple had the case moved to California federal court. They sought dismissal of Doe’s lawsuit in June, arguing that her claims are time-barred and lack sufficient factual basis. Their lawyers stated that the statute of limitations for Doe’s claims expired over 16 years ago, indicating that at best, Doe had until December 31, 2007, to file her lawsuit based on the allegations.

Judge Garnett also criticized Doe’s attorneys for not following court protocol. In July, the defense filed requests to amend the initial complaint, which was not allowed at that stage of the judicial process. Garnett stated that they were required to file an opposition to the motion to dismiss brought by the defendants.

“Because Plaintiff requests leave to amend, and because it is not clear that amendment would be futile, the Court grants Plaintiff leave to amend.” Doe’s lawyers now have 21 days to file an amended complaint. If they fail to do so, the case will be dismissed with prejudice.

Doe’s lawsuit was filed under California’s Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which permits civil suits in cases of sexual assault beyond the statute of limitations if one or more entities are legally responsible and have engaged in a cover-up.

The act allows lawsuits to be filed through the end of 2023, or up to the end of 2026 for assaults that occurred since 2009.

The accusations against T.I. and Tiny Harris echoed those made during a 2021 police investigation reported by The New York Times. The police were investigating a 2005 incident involving a military veteran who claimed that the couple had raped her in a hotel room after she was drugged while drinking with them in the VIP section of an L.A. club. Over a dozen women came forward in 2021 with similar claims, including drugging, sex trafficking, and rape. None of the accusers shared their names in the lawsuits.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org, and in Spanish at RAINN.org/es.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lawsuit accusing T.I., Tiny Harris of assault dismissed by judge.

Source: USA TODAY, AllHipHop, The New York Times