A federal judge has dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit against Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, meaning the plaintiff cannot file a similar lawsuit in the future.
A federal judge in Manhattan has dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler for good, meaning the plaintiff will not be allowed to amend or file a similar lawsuit in the future.
Jeanne Bellino, 66, a former teen model, filed a lawsuit against the 76-year-old last fall, accusing him of forcibly groping her inside a New York City phone booth in 1975.
Bellino's complaint alleged that Tyler "stuck his tongue down her throat, and put his hands upon her body, her breasts, her buttocks, and her genitals, moving and removing clothing and pinning her against the wall of the phone booth."
The complaint further stated that "Tyler's penis was erect, and it was evident to her as he rubbed it against her that he was not wearing underwear and wearing thin pants."
Tyler has denied the claims, and his lawyer, David Long-Daniels, said in a statement that they are "grateful for this result on behalf of our client."
This is the second time a federal judge has dismissed Bellino's lawsuit against Tyler. In February, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice, meaning it could be filed again. However, Kaplan gave Bellino until March 13 to amend her complaint.
Bellino did not amend her complaint, and Kaplan subsequently dismissed the lawsuit for good.
Long-Daniels told Reuters that the judge "fastidiously applied the facts to the law. That is all we can ask from any judge. We are particularly happy for Steven and his family."
Tyler has also been sued for sexual assault in California court by Julia Misley. Misley alleged that Tyler "coerced and persuaded Plaintiff into believing this was a 'romantic love affair'" when she was 16 years old.
In his response to Misley's lawsuit, Tyler admitted to having a sexual relationship with her but claimed that it was consensual and that he had immunity because he was her legal guardian at the time.
The outcome of Misley's lawsuit is still pending.
Tyler's dismissal of the sexual assault lawsuits comes amid a wave of #MeToo allegations against powerful men in the entertainment industry. Several high-profile figures, including Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, have been convicted of sexual assault in recent years.
However, Tyler's case is unique in that the allegations against him date back to the 1970s. This raises questions about the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases and the challenges involved in prosecuting cases that occurred decades ago.
The dismissal of Bellino's lawsuit does not necessarily mean that Tyler is innocent of the allegations against him. However, it does mean that Bellino will not be able to pursue her case against him in court.
