Russell Simmons has avoided legal consequences after a federal judge dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit filed against him. The judge ruled that Simmons, who’s been living in Indonesia since 2018, isn’t within the court’s jurisdiction.
The lawsuit was brought by Jane Doe, a former Def Jam executive, who accused Simmons of raping her in his Manhattan apartment back in the 1990s. She claimed he invited her under the pretense of reviewing a music video, according to All Hip Hop. The case was filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which allows survivors of sexual abuse to seek justice even if the usual time limits have passed.
However, Simmons’ defense team argued that the case should be dismissed because he hasn’t lived in New York or any other U.S. state for years. Judge John G. Koeltl agreed, saying the plaintiff couldn’t prove that Simmons was legally domiciled in New York when the case was filed.
Simmons has lived in Indonesia since 2018 and got a permanent retirement visa there in 2021. He also sold his New York apartment the same year, strengthening his claim that he’s no longer tied to the U.S.
The court wasn’t convinced by the plaintiff’s evidence, which included Simmons’ social media posts and occasional trips to New York. Judge Koeltl ruled that these weren’t enough to prove Simmons still had a legal home in the U.S.
In his deposition, Simmons confirmed his situation, saying, “I don’t live in America. America’s not my home.”
While this lawsuit has been dismissed, Simmons still faces other legal challenges, including accusations of failing to pay nearly $9 million in sexual assault settlement money to six women.
