LOS ANGELES — A judge today took under submission a motion by Kesha’s music producer to dismiss or put on hold the singer’s lawsuit alleging he drugged and raped the “Tik Tok” singer.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Barbara Scheper said she wants to ponder the case further and see an amended complaint view Kesha’s attorneys say they will file soon.
Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, alleges that Kesha made up the date rape allegation as part of an extortion scheme to get out of her exclusive recording contract.
Dr. Luke’s attorney, Christine Lepera, said Kesha signed agreements with Dr. Luke stating that any legal disputes would be decided in New York. Therefore, the California case should be dismissed or stayed so that all of the litigation can be heard in New York, she said.
“What it really is is ‘I want out,’” Lepera said in reference to Kesha, who the attorney alleges sued Dr. Luke as part of her effort to have her contracts with him rescinded.
The remark brought a sharp rebuke from Kesha’s lead attorney, Mark Geragos. He said the singer’s case involves allegations of sexual abuse that occurred in California, not New York. He denied his client’s lawsuit, filed the same day in October as Dr. Luke’s, was related to the contract dispute.
Kesha, 28, appeared in court today but did not speak during the proceedings. She huddled with Geragos and her other attorneys in the hallway after the hearing.
Lepera and Dr. Luke’s other attorney, Adam Levin, said they were “cautiously optimistic” that Scheper would ultimately rule on their client’s behalf.
