Smokey Robinson recordsdata defamation go well with towards former housekeepers accusing him of sexual assault

Smokey Robinson has filed a $500m (£370m) defamation lawsuit towards the 4 former housekeepers who accused the Motown star of sexual assault earlier this month.

Retaining anonymity, the ladies characterised Robinson, 85, as a “serial and sick rapist” who had assaulted them on a number of events between 2007 and 2024 at three completely different places. Their legal professionals mentioned that “as low-wage staff in susceptible positions, they lacked the sources and choices essential to guard themselves from sexual assaults”.

In addition they accused Robinson and his spouse, Frances, of labour violations, together with failure to pay minimal wage and time beyond regulation, submitting inaccurate wage statements and making a hostile work surroundings.

Having denied the ladies’s claims from the outset, Robinson and Frances are actually accusing them of fabricating their accounts to extort cash from him. In authorized paperwork obtained by the Guardian, the couple said that the alleged victims spent years working with them, accepted monetary assist from the couple and took holidays and celebrated holidays with them.

The Robinsons’ case claims that “the depths of plaintiffs’ avarice and greed is aware of no bounds”, accusing them of “concocting an extortionate plan to take the whole lot from the Robinsons (the whole lot over and above what they have been freely given) and wrongfully destroy the Robinsons’ well-built reputations”.

Robinson faces felony investigation in Los Angeles over the allegations. He initially mentioned he welcomed the investigation “as a result of publicity to the reality is a strong factor”. His legal professionals declare that the ladies mustn’t have been permitted anonymity and filed a movement to have their case dismissed.

All of Hispanic origin, the ladies mentioned that they had solely now made their allegations public owing to concern about their reputations and – in some circumstances – their immigration standing. They search £50m (£37m) in damages and a jury trial.

The ladies additionally accused Frances of utilizing “ethnically pejorative phrases and language” and being conscious of her husband’s alleged conduct.

“We consider she was conscious of the misconduct by her husband … and that she used their standing in addition to our shoppers’ reliance on their residing wage with a view to maintain them in examine,” mentioned lawyer Herbert Hayden.

Robinson was one of many first stars of Motown, with hits to his title similar to The Tears of a Clown, along with his group the Miracles – and as a songwriter for the likes of Marvin Gaye and the Temptations. He launched his most up-to-date album, What the World Wants Now, this yr.