Bob Dylan‘s attorneys have slammed back against a woman who last summer accused the legendary songwriter of sexually abusing her in 1965. The suit claims that Dylan abused the then-12-year-old girl, known only as “J.C.” between April and May 1965, and, quote, “exploited his status as a musician by grooming J.C. to gain her trust and to obtain control over her as part of his plan to sexually molest and abuse J.C.”
The suit claims that Dylan gave the girl, “alcohol and drugs,” during “multiple” sessions that took place both in his Manhattan apartment and the city’s Chelsea Hotel. “J.C.” — who is now, presumably, 68, claims she “sustained physical and psychological injuries. . . and, upon information and belief, some or all of these injuries are of a permanent and lasting nature.” The report cited she is “seeking compensatory damages for an unspecified amount to be determined by a jury at trial.”
After numerous Dylan historians proved that the alleged victim’s timelines did not match with his well-documented schedule at the time, she amended her suit, now claiming her suit took place in the “spring” of 1965 — rather than the previously cited “April and May.”
Rolling Stone reported Dylan’s official answer to the suit filed in Manhattan reads in part: “Mr. Dylan may have seemed like an easy mark for the lawyers who filed and hoped to profit off of this fraudulent lawsuit. They likely assumed he would not be up for the fight and would instead pay extortion to avoid the burden, publicity, and expense of defending himself. They could not have been more wrong. Mr. Dylan seeks and will achieve justice, vindication and full accountability.”
It goes on to state, “This case — based on plaintiff’s alleged interactions with Bob Dylan more than 56 years ago — is a brazen shakedown masquerading as a lawsuit. It was filed in bad faith for the improper purpose of extracting a huge payout on the threat of negative publicity. The allegation is false, malicious, reckless and defamatory. Mr. Dylan will not be extorted.”
Last summer Rolling Stone reported, “The lawsuit was filed (on) August 13th, in New York, just before the window closed for the state’s Child Victims’ Act. The law, which was enacted in 2019, allowed survivors of childhood abuse to sue their abusers and other institutions that may have protected them regardless of whether the statute of limitations had passed on the alleged incidents.”