Vin Diesel has four claims dismissed in sexual abuse lawsuit
Vin Diesel has had four claims withdrawn against him relating to employment discrimination, but still faces sexual battery and wrongful termination allegations from his former assistant.
In 2023, Diesel was sued by former assistant Asta Jonasson, who alleged that 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 alleges that Diesel “ignored [her] clear statements of non-consent” while groping her. The personal assistant then allegedly “screamed and ran towards the nearby bathroom” before the alleged assault took place. She claimed to have been fired shortly after the alleged incident.
While the historic nature of the allegation would normally mean it was beyond the statute of limitations, Gavin Newsom signed the Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act in 2023, which meant that cases could be brought forward from 2009 onwards.
However, the four allegations under the Fair Employment and Housing Act have been deemed invalid by Judge Daniel Crowley due to the plaintiff needing to file an administrative complaint with the state Civil Rights Department within a year of the alleged incident.
The judge wrote: “Plaintiff’s FEHA claims are time-barred because she failed to timely exhaust her administrative remedies by filing a CRD complaint within one year of the alleged adverse action, a jurisdictional requirement for a FEHA lawsuit.”
Despite the four allegations relating to the Fair Employment and Housing Act being dropped due to the statute of limitations, Jonasson’s claims of retaliation, wrongful termination, sexual battery, negligent supervision and retention and infliction of emotional distress still stand.
Upon the lawsuit being filed in 2023, Diesel’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, categorically denied the allegations in a statement, stating, “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.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.