Celebrity Buzz
2 weeks ago
Vin Diesel Defies Georgia Law in Sexual Assault Case
Vin Diesel won dismissal of a former assistant's sexual battery lawsuit, as a judge ruled California sex assault law does not apply in Georgia.
Vin Diesel Defies Georgia Law in Sexual Assault Case
Vin Diesel has successfully dismissed a sexual battery lawsuit brought by his former assistant, Asta Jonasson, in Georgia, citing California law's inapplicability to Georgia. The lawsuit, filed in 2023, alleged that Diesel sexually assaulted Jonasson while she was in Atlanta for the filming of "Fast Five," a "Fast & Furious" movie. Judge Daniel M. Crowley ruled that the Georgia statute of limitations, which would have barred the claims due to their timing, did not apply here because California law does not have extraterritorial reach unless explicitly stated by the legislature.
Jonasson's complaint detailed an incident where Diesel allegedly forced her onto his bed, attempted to strip and touch him, and then had her fired by her sister after hours. The judge noted that while the alleged assault occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, California law does not recognize jurisdiction in such cases unless the statute of limitations has expired or the legislature explicitly allows it. Jonasson's lawyers plan to appeal the decision, arguing that the ruling was based on a legal technicality.
Diesel's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has denied the allegations, emphasizing the "clear evidence" that refutes them. The case highlights the complexities of jurisdictional issues in sexual assault lawsuits, especially when involving actors and their associates across state lines.