American singer Kesha filed a lawsuit against music producer Dr. Luke for charges of battery, violation of California business practices, and abuse in 2014. Luke filed counter claims against Kesha soon following the lawsuit. A judge took Luke’s motion to put a hold on Kesha’s allegations of rape and drug abuse on Thursday, May 21.
The drug and rape allegations may be dismissed entirely by Judge Barbara Scheper of the Los Angeles Superior Court. The judge said that she will make a decision after seeing a formal complaint by Kesha’s attorneys. Luke’s counter claim to Kesha’s lawsuit states that she concocted the date rape allegations in order to back out of her recording contract with Luke. 28-year-old Kesha worked with Luke for a decade after being signed with his label Kemosabe Entertainment and Prescription Songs.
Luke’s attorneys are battling to dismiss Kesha’s case in California in order to move the hearings to New York. Luke’s attorney, Christine Lepera said that Kesha signed agreements with Luke which state that any legal issues are to be settled in New York. Kesha’s attorney Mark Geragos argues that since Kesha’s allegations of sexual abuse occurred in California, the case should remain in the same state. Geragos has denied Luke’s allegations of a contract dispute.
Earlier, Kesha’s lawsuit received priority over Luke’s, on the basis on being filed sooner. Supreme Court Justice Shirley Kornreich from New York made a decision that Kesha’s case should move forward first. She stated that both lawsuits “present similar claims with the possibility of inconsistent judgments, and the California case alleges specific California statutory claims.”
Kesha produced her hit albums “Animal” and “Warrior” with Luke’s label. In 2014, she checked in to Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, a rehabilitation facility for two months. She struggled with bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder since being signed by Luke. It began after she was reportedly told by Luke to lose weight, likening her body shape to a refrigerator.
In October 2014, the singer sued Luke for allegations of battery, harassment, violence and abuse. Her claims state that he drugged her during the times they worked together. Luke filed a counter claims against Kesha for defamation and alleged that the singer fabricated her claims in order to break her contract.
