On Monday, multiple sources reported that a Florida woman has officially brought a lawsuit against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, accusing him of demanding oral sex from her when they were colleagues in the NYPD’s transit bureau in 1993. She claims that when she refused to comply, he forced her to touch his penis. The civil complaint was filed in the state Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Notice of the complaint first came in November, when Lorna Beach-Mathura, who now lives in Florida, submitted a brief court summons against Adams under the state’s Adult Survivors Act. That law provided a one-year extension of the window for survivors of alleged sexual misconduct to sue in civil court beyond the normal statute of limitations.
As he did in November, Adams is again denying the allegations, calling them “outrageous”.
The lawsuit claims that Adams, who was a transit police officer at the time, offered to help the accuser, Lorna Beach-Mathura, to get a promotion in the department, but then afterward pressured her for sexual favors.
“Defendant Adams claimed he would assist Plaintiff with an employment issue, only instead to drive her to a vacant lot and request oral sex from her,” the lawsuit alleges. “When she refused, Defendant Adams forcibly pushed Plaintiff’s hand onto his erect penis, and then, after she removed her hand, masturbated himself to completion and ejaculated on her.”
Eric Adams has vehemently denied the accusations, even claiming not to know Beach-Mathura. “It absolutely did not happen,” he said. “I don’t recall ever meeting this person. And I would never harm anyone in that magnitude.”
An attorney for the mayor, city Corporation Counsel Sylvia Hinds-Radix, denied the new details alleged on Monday.
“While we review the complaint, the mayor fully denies these outrageous allegations and the events described here; we expect full vindication in court,” she wrote in an emailed statement. “Additionally, in 1993, Eric Adams was one of the most prominent public opponents of the racism within the NYPD, which is why the suit’s allegations that he had any sway over promotions of civilian employees is ludicrous.”
Beach-Mathura is seeking at least $5 million in damages, plus attorney’s fees, according to the court notice they filed in November.
Beach-Matura was praised by her attorney Megan Goddard, “She knew that filing this lawsuit would cause her significant personal challenges but she did so nevertheless, because she believes sexual abusers must be held to account, no matter who they are,” she said. “Her fearlessness and quest for justice are as inspiring as they are important.”
