Jermaine Jackson Seeks to Vacate $6.5 Million Assault Judgment

Jermaine Jackson is trying to erase a $6.5 million default judgment in a sexual assault lawsuit, a case that matters to rights holders because the court fight now turns on notice, identity and whether a defendant was ever properly reached. Jackson has now filed papers denying the allegations and asking for a chance to defend himself on the merits.

 Jackson denies the allegations and says he never got notice in time

Jackson, who was found liable by default last month after failing to respond for more than two years, said in a court declaration that he did not ignore the case on purpose. He wrote, “I did not know this lawsuit was pending in time to respond,” and added, “I did not rape plaintiff. I did not sexually assault plaintiff. I deny the material allegations of the complaint, deny liability and dispute damages. I request the opportunity to defend this case on the merits.”

The lawsuit was brought by Rita Butler Barrett, a music contractor who worked with Jackson in the late 1980s. Barrett sued Jackson in 2023 under a one-year legislative window that allowed rape victims to bring claims that would otherwise be barred by the statute of limitations.

The $6.5 million judgment came after failed service attempts

Barrett’s attorneys obtained the $6.5 million default judgment after trying and failing to serve Jackson at an Encino address and then publishing multiple notices in the Los Angeles Times. Jackson argues those efforts were ineffective because he lives abroad in Bahrain and the notices used his “obsolete former legal name.”

Jackson changed his name in 2013 to “Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun.” His attorney, Bret Lewis, argued in a Tuesday motion that notices using “Jermaine Jackson” were not enough to alert him to Barrett’s claims. Lewis wrote, “This is not a case of a defendant ignoring papers actually received.”

The judge will decide whether the default judgment stands

The motion asks Judge Elaine W. Mandel to vacate the $6.5 million default judgment and allow Jackson to defend himself. The judge is set to consider the request at a June 30 hearing in Los Angeles.

What to watch next: whether Judge Mandel grants Jackson’s request to wipe the judgment and reopen the case, or lets Barrett’s default win stand.

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