LOS ANGELES—Adult star Nikki Benz is suing Mindgeek, the parent company of Brazzers, director Tony T and performer Ramon Nomar related to the alleged assault she suffered on a Brazzers set in 2016.
The AVN Hall of Famer Benz accused the defendants of causing her to be "traumatized" from alleged misconduct on a shoot in which she performed with Nomar in December 2016. In the complaint filed in LA County Superior Court, Benz is seeking damages for battery, assault, sexual battery, Violation of the Ralph Civil Rights Act, Violation of the Tom Bane Civil Rights Act, Gender Violence, Negligent Hiring, Supervision and Retention, Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment and Failure to Prevent Hostile Work Environment Sexual Harassment.
The Ralph Civil Rights Act prohibits violence or threats of violence based on an individual's race, color, religion, ancestry, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, political affiliation or position in a labor dispute; the Bane Act provides protection from threats, intimidation, or coercion and for attempts to interfere with someone's state or federal statutory or constitutional rights.
Benz's attorney Daniel Gilleon told AVN, "The lawsuit is to recover money damages in excess of $5,000,000 for a sexual assault and battery committed during the filming of a Brazzers adult scene."
Representatives from Mindgeek/Brazzers, T and Nomar were not available for comment at post time.
On the heels of Benz's initial allegations, Brazzers in 2016 said it would investigate the production.
"Brazzers considers performers’ consent, boundaries and limits and safety to be fundamental and paramount issues and unequivocally stands for the respect of the performers," the studio said in a statement at the time. "Brazzers does not condone nor does it tolerate conduct by producers that would jeopardize a performer’s security or well-being. Given the allegations surrounding the production of this scene, Brazzers will thoroughly investigate its production, and, if necessary will take steps that are reasonably calculated to prevent the alleged behavior from occurring..."
In a follow-up statement from December 2016, Brazzers said it had ended its relationship with Tony T.
"Not only have we terminated all existing professional engagements with the producer, but any possibility for any future endeavors with this producer have also been quashed," the statement read. "We have also refused to purchase the scene in question as it stands in direct contrast with our mandate to ensure that performers’ consent, boundaries and limits are respected. It is our commitment that this offensive scene will never find itself listed as a Brazzers property."
In July 2017, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Delilah Lyons denied several motions Benz made to strike director T's defamation suit against her, ruling the case would be allowed to proceed.
In May 2017, Benz filed an anti-SLAPP motion against T, as well as a demurrer and a motion to strike punitive damages in the case.
On the heels of Benz's initial allegations, Brazzers in 2016 said it would investigate the production.
"Brazzers considers performers’ consent, boundaries and limits and safety to be fundamental and paramount issues and unequivocally stands for the respect of the performers," the studio said in a statement at the time. "Brazzers does not condone nor does it tolerate conduct by producers that would jeopardize a performer’s security or well-being. Given the allegations surrounding the production of this scene, Brazzers will thoroughly investigate its production, and, if necessary will take steps that are reasonably calculated to prevent the alleged behavior from occurring..."
In a follow-up statement from December 2016, Brazzers said it had ended its relationship with Tony T.
"Not only have we terminated all existing professional engagements with the producer, but any possibility for any future endeavors with this producer have also been quashed," the statement read. "We have also refused to purchase the scene in question as it stands in direct contrast with our mandate to ensure that performers’ consent, boundaries and limits are respected. It is our commitment that this offensive scene will never find itself listed as a Brazzers property."
In July 2017, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Delilah Lyons denied several motions Benz made to strike director T's defamation suit against her, ruling the case would be allowed to proceed.
In May 2017, Benz filed an anti-SLAPP motion against T, as well as a demurrer and a motion to strike punitive damages in the case.
