Newsletter - Russell Simmons' $3 Million Liability for Sexual Assault Settlements
Russell Simmons' Sexual Assault Settlements
Russell Simmons is on the hook for millions after failing to pay three women the settlements they previously agreed upon. Three confessions of judgment were filed in New York County Supreme Court on Wednesday on behalf of Sil Lai Abrams, Sherri Abernathy, and Wendy Carolina Franco, according to reports from Variety.
- The Def Jam founder owes these women a total of $3 million after failing to pay them previously agreed-upon settlements.
- The confessions of judgment were part of confidential settlement agreements the women entered into with the disgraced music mogul in November 2023.
- While Simmons agreed to pay each woman large sums of money “for claimant’s alleged personal, physical injuries and sickness,” he has failed to pay by the October 1 deadline.
Legal Proceedings Against Simmons
In New York state court, the judgments give the plaintiffs an expedited means to obtain judgments and to begin collections in the event of a default. Although Simmons did not admit to wrongdoing, he pledged to pay $1,265,000 each to Abrams and Abernathy, and $515,000 to Franco.
The documents do not specify the reasons for the original settlements. Notably, Abrams previously alleged that Simmons raped her in 1994, contributing to a history of accusations from more than 20 women over the past decade, including a recent allegation from a former employee.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.