Cuba Gooding Jr. Loses Lawsuit Against Grope Accuser
It’s reported that after failing to respond to the lawsuit for over a year, Cuba Gooding Jr., 53, has lost his case against his grope accuser, identified as bartender Natasha Ashworth. Ashworth, who sued the actor back in October 2019 — claiming that while she was serving at NYC’s Tao Downtown Nightclub the year before, he repeatedly tried to pinch her butt.
Since the actor failed to response to Ashworth’s complaint, she requested a default judgement in January, and has now won. It’s noted that Gooding never hired a civil attorney to defend him in the suit and no court papers were entered by him or on his behalf. Therefore, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Alexander Tisch granted Ashworth’s request on Wednesday (June 2 ) for a default judgment against Gooding on the claims of assault and battery.
RELATED: Cuba Gooding Jr. Accused Of Sexual Misconduct By 7 More Women
However, Tisch denied a default judgement on the claim of infliction of emotional distress citing redundancy. Tisch also noted that the case should be set for trial in order to determine damages for Ashworth. Meanwhile, Gooding’s criminal attorney Mark Heller says the claim is “baseless and the judgement is worthless.” Elsewhere, the actor has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 30 women with: 1) a woman suing him in August of raping her twice in 2013; and 2) him being criminally charge on six misdemeanor counts of sexual abuse and forcible touching (including Ashworth’s case). Gooding denies all allegations.
RELATED: Cuba Gooding Jr. Alleged Victim Seeking Default Judgement As Actor Stays Silent