Garth Brooks continues to fight accusations of sexual assault made against him by his former hair and makeup artist. The most recent update on the case reveals that the country singer is hoping to move the lawsuit to federal court.
ET has reported that Brooks’ lawyers have filed a motion to move the lawsuit to federal court in an attempt to increase the likelihood of getting it dismissed and/or expedite the trial. While speaking with the news outlet, a legal expert named Tre Lovell, explained that moving to federal court would be a possibility as the two parties live in different states, and the amount that the plaintiff is suing him for exceeds $75,000.
He went on to say that this shift would also give Brooks a few advantages.
“It’s probably easier to seal fillings, usually you get a quicker trial date. Judges are more amenable to dismissing a cast,” Lovell explained. “Los Angeles tends to be a more of a minority, blue collar jury pool. In federal court, you have a broader jury pool and a broader jury pool I think would help Garth in this case.”
“Jane Roe” Accuses Brooks Of Multiple Allegations
On Oct. 3, a “Jane Roe” filed a lawsuit with the California Supreme Court in Los Angeles County, claiming that Brooks raped and sexually assaulted her. The lawsuit states that Roe started working for the “Friends In Low Places” singer in 2017 after initially being hired to handle his wife, Trisha Yearwood’s hair and makeup in 1999.
The suit alleges that Brooks once raped her during a work trip and accuses him of exposing himself on multiple occasions, sending her explicit text messages, and frequently changing his clothes in front of her, among other allegations.
Roe specifically referenced two incidents, which allegedly took place in 2019.
One of the incidents finds Roe claiming that Brooks allegedly “grabbed her hands and forced them” onto his private parts while emerging from the shower in his home and proceeded to speak to her in sexually explicit terms.
This followed a separate claim from May 2019, in which the accuser alleges that Brooks raped her in a Los Angeles hotel room while they were in town for a GRAMMY tribute performance. Roe stated they had traveled to the location together on his private jet.
Brooks Files Lawsuit In Mississippi Under The Name John Doe
Prior to Roe’s filing in California, Brooks filed a lawsuit in Mississippi under the name John Doe. Country Now was able to obtain this suit and it states: “Plaintiff files this lawsuit to obtain relief from Defendant’s ongoing attempted extortion, defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress through outrageous conduct including the publication and threatened wider publication of false allegations of sexual misconduct that would irreparably harm Plaintiff’s reputation, family, career and livelihood.”
The suit goes on to claim that Roe worked for Brooks as an independent contractor. In May of 2020, she then moved to Mississippi and found herself facing “financial difficulties.” At this point, according to the suit filed by Brooks, Roe sought out financial assistance from the country star.
“Plaintiff complied out of loyalty, friendship, and a desire to improve Defendant’s condition. But Defendant’s demands for financial assistance only increased, with Defendant ultimately asking Plaintiff for salaried employment and medical benefits,” the lawsuit states.
He stated that he could not agree to her request and claims she “responded with false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct she claims occurred years ago.”
The County Star Responds
Shortly after the accusations became public, Brooks responded in a statement obtained by Country Now via his spokesperson.
“For the last two months, I have been hassled to no end with threats, lies, and tragic tales of what my future would be if I did not write a check for many millions of dollars. It has been like having a loaded gun waved in my face,” the statement reads. “Hush money, no matter how much or how little, is still hush money. In my mind, that means I am admitting to behavior I am incapable of—ugly acts no human should ever do to another.”
His statement continues, “We filed suit against this person nearly a month ago to speak out against extortion and defamation of character. We filed it anonymously for the sake of families on both sides. I want to play music tonight. I want to continue our good deeds going forward. It breaks my heart these wonderful things are in question now. I trust the system, I do not fear the truth, and I am not the man they have painted me to be.”
Accuser’s Name Made Public
NBC News reports that on Oct. 8, Brooks filed an amended complaint in federal court in Mississippi, which involved Brooks’ lawyers making the accuser’s name public. In another filing, the lawyers claimed that Brooks “is the victim of a shakedown” and that the woman “flouted” the authority of a judge in a related case.
Jane Roe’s lawyers responded in a statement saying they “will be moving for maximum sanctions” against Brooks immediately.
“Garth Brooks just revealed his true self. Out of spite and to punish, he publicly named a rape victim,” the woman’s attorneys said, according to NBC News. “With no legal justification, Brooks outed her because he thinks the laws don’t apply to him.”
Brooks’ lawyers appeared to defend naming his accuser by referencing a statement she made in a recent filing, where she seemingly indicated her willingness to use her name if the court deemed it necessary in denying his motion to remain anonymous.”
The woman’s filing read, “although Ms. Roe believes that she should be permitted to remain anonymous … if the Court determines that the status of her name meaningfully impacts whether Plaintiff can proceed as a ‘Doe,’ Ms. Roe is willing to proceed and use her own name in this action.”
In the midst of this ongoing case, Garth Brooks revealed on his “Inside Studio G” Facebook Live show that he and Yearwood are thinking about purchasing a house in Ireland, where the Oklahoma native has a massive fanbase.
“Actually, the queen is pushing hard for the house in Ireland,” Brooks said in the clip. “I think this last time over there, she just fell head over heels in love with the country.”
He is also set to resume his Garth Brooks/Plus ONE The Vegas Residency in 2025 with the final dates taking place live at the Ceasar Palace Colosseum from February 21 – March 9.
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