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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Saying he has "no place in this litigation," attorneys for Jason Derulo's personal talent manager want their client dismissed as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by an aspiring singer who alleges the singer/songwriter signed her to his record company, then later threatened and fired her after she resisted his sexual advances.
Emaza Gibson claims in her Los Angeles Superior Court suit that Derulo hired her in 2021 and "promised to make multiple music albums" with her as part of a joint venture with Atlantic Records and his label, Future History, which were named as co-defendants along with RCA Records.
In court papers filed Wednesday with Judge Kerry Bensinger, Derulo personal talent manager Frank Harris' attorneys say that their client's only alleged involvement "was to have participated in a few conversations with plaintiff and her mother."
Even if taken as true, the alleged and "admitted tangential conversations are hardly sufficient to hold Harris liable" under any claims raised by Gibson, Harris' lawyers maintain in their court papers.
"As a matter of law and fact, (Harris) has no place in this litigation," Harris' lawyers argue in their court papers.
Gibson's claims against Harris include breach of contract, retaliation, violation of civil rights and failure to prevent harassment.
Derulo, 34, previously used social media to deny Gibson's allegations.
"I wouldn't normally comment but these claims are completely false and hurtful," Derulo said. "I stand against all forms of harassment and I remain supportive of anybody following their dreams. I've always strived to live my life in a positively impactful way, and that's why I sit here before you deeply offended by these defamatory claims."
According to Gibson's lawsuit, "Derulo informed plaintiff that if she wanted to be successful in `this business,' plaintiff would be required to partake in `goat skin and fish scales,' which is a Haitian reference referring to conducting sex rituals, sacrificing a goat, goat blood and doing cocaine."
The lawsuit filed Oct. 5 contends that "the manner and timing of such a statement meant that Derulo was demanding sexual acts from plaintiff in order for Derulo to fulfill his role as her mentor, supervisor and musical collaborator. This explicit demand for sex-in-exchange-for-success was reinforced through Derulo's subsequent behavior."
Derulo later began regularly inviting Gibson to have drinks or dinner, requests she declined in an effort to keep their relationship professional, according to the lawsuit, which further states she eventually insisted that her mother/manager be present during all of their future meetings or recording sessions, allegedly angering Derulo and causing him to stop answering her texts.
Gibson was fired in September 2022, the suit states, and she was never able to get a response from Atlantic executives about her allegations of "sexually, emotionally and physically inappropriate behavior."
Gibson allegedly suffered breakdowns, weight loss, mood swings, hopelessness, loss of motivation and feelings of betrayal and deception and had to seek mental health treatment, leading to a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
"None of these allegations mention or involve Harris in any way, either expressly or impliedly," according to Harris' attorneys' court papers, which further state that their client is not responsible for Derulo's alleged screaming at Gibson for arriving late to a June 2022 recording session.
"Plaintiff's mother allegedly contacted Harris, who was neither present at the recording session, nor was he involved with the incident or plaintiff, to complain about Derulo," Harris' lawyers' maintain in their court papers. "Harris simply informed plaintiff's mother that Derulo is his own man."
A case management conference is scheduled Feb. 6 and a hearing is Harris' dismissal motion is set for Feb. 15.