Jermaine Jackson, one of the members of the Jackson 5, the popular and influential musical group of the 1970’s, and brother of the lead singer, Michael, has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 1988, according to a new lawsuit obtained by Rolling Stone.
In the brief suit, filed in Los Angeles on Wednesday, the plaintiff Rita Barrett alleges that Jackson assaulted her in her home over three decades ago after showing up at her house unannounced. Barrett claims in the suit that she met Jackson through her work as a music contractor, as well as through Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, alleging that she maintained close ties with Gordy through her husband, Ben Barrett.
“Defendant Jackson forced himself into Plaintiff’s home, and with force and violence sexually assaulted Plaintiff,” the suit states. “During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life. After the assault and when Defendant Jackson was satiated, he left the residence.”
Jackson, his companies Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions and Work Records, were all listed as defendants in the suit, and the listed causes of action are sexual assault, battery, sexual battery, and negligence. Barrett asked for unspecified damages.
A representative for Jackson couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
“Rita Barrett suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault,” Barrett’s attorney, Jeff Anderson, told Rolling Stone.
Perhaps alluding to the long time lapse between the assault and the filing of the lawsuit, Anderson stated, “This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others.”
Barrett also implicates Berry Gordy, alleging that the day after the assault, she reported the incident to him due to his relationship with both her and the Jackson family, believing him to be “uniquely situated to both report Defendant Jackson’s acts and to aid plaintiff during her time of trauma.” But she found him to be uninterested in doing so. Although Gordy himself wasn’t named as a defendant, the suit claims that Gordy protected Jackson for financial interests.
“Mr. Gordy withheld and concealed the acts, further perpetuating the coverup and allowing Mr. Gordy, Defendant Jackson, and others in the business relationship to continue to reap profits derived from Mr. Jackson’s work and reputation for years to come.”
A representative for Gordy did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
Jermaine’s brother Michael was embroiled for years in accusations of sexual abuse. Before and even after his death in 2009, Jackson was the subject of multiple sexual abuse accusations and police investigations as well as civil and criminal lawsuits. In 2003 Jackson was arrested on child molestation charges and was eventually indicted on 10 criminal counts, including child molestation, abduction, false imprisonment and extortion
He was acquitted of all charges in a 2005 trial.
