HU Exclusive: Sabrina Peterson Scores Legal Win In Case Against T.I., Tiny & Shekinah
As we previously reported, back in March, T.I. and Tiny’s former friend Sabrina Peterson sued the hip-hop couple for defamation following her allegation that T.I. once pulled a gun out on her and threatened to kill her. The lawsuit that coincides with accusations against T.I. and Tiny by several women who claim to be victims of the couple’s perversion also names their ex-friend Shekinah Anderson.
To keep you up to speed, in the days after Peterson’s initial allegation, made on January 26, she received and publicized dozens of allegations of sexual assault, abuse, and drugging against T.I. and his wife on Instagram, pausing production on T.I. and Tiny’s reality series Friends & Family Hustle in response. T.I. ultimately denied Peterson’s allegations multiple times on social media. Andrew Bettler, the couple’s lawyer, also responded to the claims in a statement and said Sabrina “has a lengthy rap sheet for crimes involving dishonesty and violence.” Shekinah even tried to defend her famous friends at the time by claiming Sabrina actually “helped” Tiny and T.I “recruit” women for them.
https://youtu.be/g-arA1cN-OY
As a result of those claims, the Atlanta entrepreneur said she received death threats and those allegations have damaged her reputation. The suit that was filed on March 1st in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, includes two claims of defamation, invasion of privacy, two claims of interference with prospective economic advantage, and two claims of infliction of emotional distress, for unspecified damages. According to the latest update, following a hearing on September 14th, a judge ruled that four out of seven can move forward. T.I. and his wife, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, lost this round in court as Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Sotelo on Tuesday denied anti-SLAPP motions brought by the Harrises and Shekinah.
To note, the state’s law, anti-SLAPP — Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, is to prevent people from using courts, and potential threats of a lawsuit, to intimidate those who are exercising their First Amendment rights.
The judge ultimately found that Sabrina Peterson had shown a “probability of prevailing” on her claims in court.
Initially, Peterson wanted to dismiss her lawsuit entirely in return of an apology and an admission by the Harrises of the falsity of their remarks. However, since she didn’t receive one, she decided to take the legal route:
“This was in no way a statement on the merit of my lawsuit, but instead was an attempt to end what has been a complete and utter nightmare for me on a personal, professional and emotional level,” Peterson said. “Their failure to set the record straight has left me with this lawsuit as the only means by which to clear my name of the salacious allegation that originated with the Harrises, and which they caused to be published online to millions of people,” Spectrum News quotes.
RELATED: UPDATE: T.I. Sued For Defamation By Woman Who Claimed He Put Gun To Her Head