Jermaine Jackson faces lawsuit in LA claiming he sexually assaulted woman in 1988 … accuser said she ‘feared for her life’

Jermaine Jackson has been sued by a woman who claims she sexually abused and assaulted her in early 1988.

The 69-year-old singer and bassist was named in the lawsuit filed last Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court by a woman named Rita Butler Barrett. People reported after reviewing court documents.

Barrett accused Indiana native Gary of rape, sexual abuse, assault and negligence in the legal filings, which include the companies Jermaine L. Jackson Music Productions, Inc. and Work Records, Inc. were named as co-defendants in the case. business suit.

Barrett told the court she had “professional and personal connections” to Jackson, whom she had known for years prior to the incident, as her husband Barrett did business with Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, 94.

Gordy and Jackson maintained “a business and/or management relationship” during the period in question, Barrett said in court documents.

Barrett told the court that the Jackson 5 alum went to her home during an unannounced visit in early 1988 and forcibly entered the house, the outlet reported.

Barrett said Jackson used “force and violence” to attack her, not stopping until he was “satiated.”

Barrett said in legal documents: “During the attack, plaintiff, a woman of faith, prayed to God for help. During the assault, the plaintiff feared for her life.”

Barrett said that “because of his relationships with both [parties,] Gordy was in a unique position to report Jackson's actions and to help plaintiff during her traumatic time.”

Barrett said she then revealed what happened to Gordy, who “withheld and concealed the actions” with the intention of “continuing to make money from Jackson's work for years” amid their “business relationship.”

Gordy was motivated to “prevent disclosure of information related to the abuse for the purpose of making profit and preserving reputation,” Barrett said.

Barrett told the court that as a result of the incident she suffered “severe emotional, physical and psychological harm, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity and permanent emotional distress.”

Barrett's attorney Jeff Anderson said in a statement that she was “the victim of a blatant and violent sexual assault.”

Jermaine was pictured in England in 2007 after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother

The Jackson 5 – (L-R) Tito, Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael Jackson – were photographed in LA in 1972

(L-R) Janet Jackson, Paris Jackson, LaToya Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and Prince Jackson attended Michael Jackson's public memorial service held in LA on July 7, 2009

Jackson's accuser said she told Motown Records founder Berry Gordy about the incident. Pictured in LA earlier this year

“This is about her power and its declaration when she learned something could be done under the law,” Anderson said, “she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others.”

In addition to his work with the Jackson 5, Jermaine amassed six top 20 songs as a solo artist in the '70s and '80s, with songs like Daddy's Home and Let's Get Serious.

Barrett's suit was filed under the California Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which allows civil lawsuits involving sex crimes that have eclipsed the statute of limitations in a case where “one or more entities are legally liable for damages and the entity whether their agents are involved' in a cover-up.'

The statutory period expires at the end of this year.

If you or someone you know has been affected by the issues addressed in the story, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.