Cuba Gooding Jr. Faces Two Lawsuits Over Sexual Assault Claims

Cuba Gooding Jr. Faces Two Lawsuits Over Sexual Assault Claims

Cuba Gooding Jr., the Academy Award-winning actor, is facing two new lawsuits over sexual assault claims. The lawsuits were filed under New York's Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual assault to file civil claims regardless of when the assault occurred.

Details of the Lawsuits

The first lawsuit was filed by a woman named Jasmine Abbay, who alleges that Gooding forcibly kissed her without her consent in 2018. Abbay was working as a cocktail waitress at a nightclub in Manhattan when the alleged incident occurred.

The second lawsuit was filed by a woman named Kelsey Harbert, who alleges that Gooding groped her breast without her consent in 2019. Harbert was at a rooftop bar in Manhattan when the alleged incident occurred.

Gooding's Response

Gooding has denied the allegations in both lawsuits. He has not yet been served with the lawsuits, but his lawyer has said that he will "vigorously defend" himself against the claims.

Prior Allegations Against Gooding

Gooding has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in the past. In 2019, he was charged with six counts of forcible touching and sexual abuse involving three women. The charges were later reduced to two counts of forcible touching, and Gooding pleaded guilty to one of those counts. He was sentenced to three years of conditional discharge, which means that he did not have to serve any jail time.

Adult Survivors Act

The Adult Survivors Act was passed in New York in 2022. The law gives victims of sexual assault a one-year window to file civil claims regardless of when the assault occurred. The law is intended to give victims who were previously unable to file claims due to the statute of limitations an opportunity to seek justice.

Impact of the Lawsuits

The lawsuits against Gooding are likely to have a significant impact on his career. He has already been dropped from several projects since the allegations against him first surfaced. If he is found liable in the lawsuits, he could be ordered to pay millions of dollars in damages to the plaintiffs.

Conclusion

The lawsuits against Gooding are a reminder of the #MeToo movement, which has encouraged victims of sexual assault to come forward and speak out against their abusers. The movement has also led to changes in the law, such as the Adult Survivors Act, which give victims more time to file claims.

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Gooding Jr. was photographed looking carefree in Miami Last month, GC Images

Plaintiff Kelsey Harbert pictured with attorney Gloria Allread in Oct. 2022, Alec Tabak