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Kevin Liles dodged a career-threatening legal blow in New York after a federal judge dismissed a sexual assault lawsuit tied to his time leading Def Jam, citing a long-buried 2005 settlement from Universal Music Group that effectively shielded him from the claims.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit, filed in February by a woman identified only as Jane Doe, accused Kevin Liles<\/a> of sexually harassing, groping and raping her in 2002 while she worked as his executive assistant.<\/p>\n Liles, who served as president of Def Jam from 1999 to 2004, denied the allegations outright, calling them \u201cpatently false\u201d and insisting he has \u201calways treated people right, especially women.\u201d<\/p>\n But U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald ruled Monday that the case couldn\u2019t move forward because of a prior agreement between Doe and UMG.<\/p>\n In 2005, the label paid her $47,500 to settle a complaint she filed with New York state regulators, alleging she was fired after reporting verbal harassment and inappropriate dancing by Liles.<\/p>\n That complaint didn\u2019t mention rape, but the judge said the settlement\u2019s language covered all possible claims from that time.<\/p>\n \u201cThe agreement and release itself contains no language cabining its terms at all,\u201d Buchwald wrote according to Billboard<\/a><\/em>.<\/em> \u201cTo the contrary, the agreement consistently and intentionally utilizes broad language discharging \u2018any and all\u2019 claims which \u2018are known or reasonably should be known\u2019 by plaintiff.\u201d<\/p>\n The court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, which means Doe cannot refile or amend the case.<\/p>\n The ruling effectively shut the door on any future legal action tied to the same events. The decision turned what could have been a damaging legal battle into a closed chapter for the music executive.<\/p>\n This wasn\u2019t the only accusation Liles faced this year.<\/p>\n In a separate incident, he publicly accused rapper Lady Luck of attempting to extort him for $30 million by threatening to publish a book and file a lawsuit filled with \u201cutterly false and horrendous allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n Lady Luck had been signed to Def Jam during Liles\u2019 leadership.<\/p>\n Liles\u2019 influence in Hip-Hop spans decades. After exiting Def Jam in 2004, he co-founded 300 Entertainment in 2012 with Lyor Cohen<\/a>, Roger Gold and Todd Moscowitz.<\/p>\n The label helped launch the careers of Megan Thee Stallion, Migos and Young Thug before being sold to Warner Music Group for $400 million in 2021.<\/p>\n He stepped down as CEO of 300 in 2024 and left Warner Music Group later that year. While he\u2019s kept a low profile since, industry sources say he\u2019s exploring new ventures outside the music business.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\nRelated<\/em><\/h3>\n<\/p>\n