Legal representatives for the 'Ignition (Remix)' hitmaker argue that the woman identified only as H.W. in her lawsuit has no right to take the singer to court since she had until 2002 to sue.
- Jun 29, 2019
AceShowbiz - R. Kelly's lawyers are seeking the dismissal of a civil suit filed against the troubled singer by one of his sex abuse accusers.
The alleged victim, one of four females involved in a separate criminal case involving the "Ignition (Remix)" hitmaker, claims she entered into a year-long sexual relationship with Kelly in the late 1990s after meeting at a restaurant while celebrating her 16th birthday.
She was initially awarded a default judgement in late April after Kelly reportedly failed to respond to the accusations, but the ruling was recently reversed by Illinois' Judge Moira Johnson as the musician's legal representatives insisted their client had never been properly served.
The judge gave Kelly's lawyers a week to respond, and as the deadline loomed on Wednesday (June 26), they lodged their response in Cook County Circuit Court, asking the official to toss the case, citing the statute of limitations.
They argue the woman, only identified as H.W. in her suit, had until 2002 to sue, but waited too long and now has no right to take Kelly to civil court.
However, state legislation grants lawmakers the discretion to extend abuse deadlines in instances where the victim only becomes aware of the misconduct years later, according to The Chicago Sun-Times.
The woman is seeking more than $50,000 (£39,400) in compensation.
Kelly, 52, has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse relating to the case in which H.W. is said to be involved, while he has also denied 11 other sex crime charges, which are allegedly linked to a 2010 incident with a minor.
