Bob Dylan sued for alleged sexual abuse of 12-year-old, denies claims
TRIGGER WARNING: SEXUAL ASSAULT
A woman has filed a suit against folk singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, alleging he gave her drugs and alcohol before sexually abusing her in 1965 when she was 12 years old.
The civil lawsuit, filed late on Friday with the New York Supreme Court, said Dylan sexually abused the plaintiff, identified only as JC, at his New York apartment over a six-week period.
The woman, now 68 years old, claimed in the suit that the assault has left “her emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged to this day”.
The suit alleges Dylan established an “emotional connection” with the plaintiff to “lower [J.C.’s] inhibitions with the object of sexually abusing her, which he did, coupled with the provision of drugs, alcohol and threats of physical violence”.
The suit claims that the emotional fallout - including depression, humiliation, and anxiety - are of “permanent and lasting natures” and have prevented the plaintiff “from attending her regular activities”.
J.C. has brought allegations of assault, battery, false imprisonment and emotional distress against Dylan, who was in his mid-20s at the time, and is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.
“The complaint speaks for itself,” J.C.’s lawyer Daniel Isaacs said.
“She provided a lot of detailed information regarding the time in question that leaves no doubt that she was with him in the apartment during the time in question.”
Mr Isaacs also noted that he was able to verify the details in J.C.’s claim with the “best available research”.
Dylan, now 80, denies claims in the lawsuit that he “exploited his status as a musician” to abuse her.
“This 56-year-old claim is untrue and will be vigorously defended,” Dylan’s spokesman said.
The lawsuit was submitted just before the closure of the New York Child Victims’ Act look-back window, which has allowed victims of childhood sexual abuse to file legal claims that were previously too old to pursue due to a statute of limitations.