Former assistant’s sexual assault lawsuit against Vin Diesel dismissed
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit accusing Vin Diesel of sexually assaulting his former assistant in 2010.
Judge Daniel M Crowley previously dismissed four of the ten claims brought against Diesel by Asta Jonasson, and on November 19th, he dismissed the remaining four claims due to lack of jurisdiction.
In the 13-page ruling, Crowley wrote, “It is undisputed that the alleged sexual assault took place in Atlanta, Georgia,” which “fails as a matter of law because California statutes are presumed not to have extraterritorial effect unless the Legislature expressly states otherwise in adopting the statute”.
While the claims would typically fall outside of the statute of limitations, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed off on the Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act in 2022, allowing for sexual assault complaints to be made that date back until 2009.
However, the law doesn’t extend outside of California.
Following the ruling, Jonasson’s attorney Matthew Hale told Deadline, “The Court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Asta Jonasson’s allegations.”
Hale also confirmed plans to appeal, adding, “The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.”
Jonasson filed the lawsuit in 2023. In the legal filing, she alleged the Fast and Furious actor pinned her up against a wall in a hotel bedroom suite in 2010 and proceeded to masturbate in front of her.
The original lawsuit alleged that Diesel “ignored [her] clear statements of non-consent” while groping Jonasson. She then allegedly “screamed and ran towards the nearby bathroom” before the alleged assault took place. Jonasson claimed to have been fired shortly after the alleged incident.
Upon the lawsuit being filed in 2023, Diesel’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, categorically denied the allegations in a statement. He said, “There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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