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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Former KROQ-FM radio personality Rodney "Rodney on the ROQ" Bingenheimer argues in new court papers that a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against him by the co-founder of the rock band The Runaways should be dismissed.
Kari Krome's Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit was originally filed in December 2022 using anonymous names, but the full identifications of the parties are listed in the amended complaint brought last April.
In court papers filed Monday, Bingenheimer's attorneys cite multiple defenses, including the statute of limitations and that any actions taken by the defendants were done in good faith, justified, nondiscriminatory and/or non- retaliatory.
The Bingenheimer lawyers further state that Krome should "take nothing by reason of her claims" and that her complaint should be dismissed with judgment entered in Bingenheimer's favor.
Bingenheimer, known as the "Mayor of the Sunset Strip," hosted "Rodney on the ROQ" on KROQ from 1976 to 2017. Bingenheimer, now 77, was also the owner of a popular nightclub, Rodney Bingenheimer's English Disco. Bingenheimer now hosts a radio show on Little Steven's Underground Garage channel on SiriusXM.
Co-defendant Kim Fowley was a well-known record producer, songwriter and musician. He also managed The Runaways in the 1970s and died in 2015 at age 75. Joan Jett also was a member of the band, who had a hit song, "Cherry Bomb."
The suit alleges that after grooming Krome and establishing what she believed to be a foundation of trust, Bingenheimer sexually assaulted her for the first time in his apartment when she was only 13 years old. The alleged molestation continued for months, the suit states.
Bingenheimer introduced Krome to Fowley, who co-founded the all-girl band the Runaways with Krome, according to the suit.
Shortly after signing Krome to a publishing deal on her 14th birthday, Fowley sexually assaulted Krome in his Los Angeles apartment and continued to molest her about six more times over the course of the next year, the suit alleges.
"I told people about these assaults when they happened and they didn't want to hear it," Krome said. "They didn't want to hurt their careers, or they didn't want to dispel their illusions about their idols."
Krome's suit alleges sexual assault and sexual battery. She seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.