Vin Diesel achieved a partial win in the Vin Diesel sexual battery lawsuit legal update, as a California judge dismissed four claims of employment discrimination, yet serious accusations of sexual battery and wrongful termination remain. The case, involving Diesel’s former assistant Asta Jonasson, centers on a 2010 incident in a hotel and continues to unfold in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Judge Removes Four Claims But Allows Sexual Battery and Retaliation Lawsuit to Proceed
Judge Daniel M. Crowley ruled earlier today to strike down several of Jonasson’s claims against Vin Diesel, including employment discrimination, after determining they were not applicable under the updated Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. However, the court upheld the most serious allegations: sexual battery, retaliation, negligent supervision and retention, wrongful termination, and infliction of emotional distress. These remaining claims ensure Diesel still faces significant legal scrutiny.
The lawsuit stems from Jonasson’s accusation that, in 2010, Diesel pinned her against a hotel wall and masturbated in front of her. Jonasson had been hired by Diesel’s production company and reported that shortly after the incident, the actor’s sister terminated her employment, allegedly because Jonasson was “no longer useful” to Diesel and because she resisted his advances. Jonasson claims she delayed going public due to a non-disclosure agreement, which the recently enacted Speak Out Act nullifies for sexual abuse cases.
Recent Legislation Opens Door to Old Cases
While Jonasson’s allegations would usually be barred by California’s statute of limitations, changes in state law made by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2023, specifically the Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, allow lawsuits dating back to 2009. Yet, claims related to employment discrimination under the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) were dismissed because Jonasson did not file a timely complaint with the Civil Rights Department, a step that had a strict one-year deadline in 2010. As a result, Judge Crowley eliminated the FEHA allegations but let the rest of the case proceed.
Diesel’s Legal Strategy and Public Denial
Through his attorney, Diesel has strongly denied all of Jonasson’s claims. Last year, Diesel’s lawyer insisted,
“There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
—Vin Diesel’s Lawyer. The defense team says they await the chance to present what they describe as exonerating evidence before the court.
Potential Consequences and What Lies Ahead
The remaining claims put Diesel in a defensive legal position, as the court prepares to hear detailed arguments on sexual battery, wrongful termination, and related accusations. The outcome could set legal precedents under California’s expanded laws targeting sexual abuse in the workplace and the effectiveness of NDAs after legislation like the Speak Out Act. The entertainment industry and observers now watch closely as Diesel, Jonasson, and the court move toward future hearings that could have broader implications beyond this case.
