Former "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestant Shangela won a round in court when a judge dismissed two of the claims in a man's lawsuit accusing Shangela of rape in 2020 in Louisiana.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey heard arguments Oct. 12 on a motion by Shangela's attorneys to toss causes of action against their client for sexual assault, gender violence, civil rights violations, false imprisonment and negligence. Shangela's lawyers maintained all five claims are barred by the statute of limitations in both California and in Louisiana.
The judge took the case under submission, then ruled Wednesday, dismissing the plaintiff's gender violence and civil rights violations claims. Fahey also said the plaintiff will have to shore up his causes of actions for sexual assault, false imprisonment and negligence if they are to remain part of the case and that the plaintiff will have to show he was a California resident when the alleged assault occurred.
The plaintiff's attorneys were ordered to file an amended complaint by Nov. 1. The suit also alleges sexual harassment and failure to prevent sexual harassment.
The plaintiff maintains he was working as a production assistant in February 2020 during filming of the first season of Shangela's HBO show "We're Here" when Shangela sexually assaulted him in a Monroe, Louisiana hotel room subsequent to an after-work party.
The plaintiff, 39, seeks unspecified damages from the 41-year-old Shangela, whose real name is Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, and the show's production company, Buckingham Television Inc.
"Fearful of losing his job, plaintiff did not immediately report the sexual assault to the authorities or to Buckingham TV," the lawsuit filed May 2 states. "Instead, he tried to maintain a cordial relationship with Pierce, without changing the way he interacted or communicated with him."
In their court papers, Buckingham Television attorneys also cite the statute of limitations as a defense and maintain the entire suit should be dismissed.
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