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Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, has been found liable in a sexual assault case brought against him by his former assistant. A jury has ruled that he must pay her over $4 million in damages.
The allegations against Soulja Boy, referred to as Jane Doe in the lawsuit, include severe claims of confinement and sexual assault, occurring during her employment from 2018 through 2021. It is reported that the assistant was allegedly kept locked in her room without access to hot water for three days and faced multiple instances of sexual assault.
The jury delivered its verdict on Thursday in a courtroom located in Santa Monica, California, siding with the plaintiff and awarding her $4 million in compensatory damages. A subsequent trial is scheduled to address the punitive damages aspect of the case.
Ron Zambrano, the attorney representing the accuser, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, stating, “We’re happy our client was vindicated and the jury believed her claims of physical and sexual assault. We’re looking forward to moving on to the punitive damages phase of the case,” he commented.
The rapper’s legal counsel has also voiced concerns about the implications of cultural bias having influenced the trial’s outcome. “It is unfortunate that aspersions and misperceptions of a culture were allowed to influence the trial. Mr. Way fully intends to pursue his post-trial remedies and to fight for a just result in this case,” the attorney stated.
Source
www.thewrap.com