Kesha includes Sony Music in lawsuit against producer Dr Luke as she claims label put her in 'physical danger' by not 'stopping abuse' 

  • The singer claims Sony Music turned a blind eye to evidence of his abusive behavior
  • The 28-year-old accuses the company of protecting the 'substantial investment' it's made in the producer
  • Kesha claims Sony Music is partly responsible for the sexual and verbal abuse she claims she suffered
  • Dr Luke has consistently denied Kesha's allegations and filed a defamation lawsuit in response 
  • Sony Music Entertainment has declined to comment 

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:11 EST, 9 June 2015 | Updated: 17:25 EST, 9 June 2015

Kesha is ramping up her lawsuit against Dr Luke, 41, by going after Sony Music too.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed Tuesday that the singer and songwriter has amended her civil complaint to include the company, claiming Sony Music Entertainment turned a blind eye towards his treatment of her and that put her in 'physical danger.'

The 28-year-old is suing because, she has maintained, SME, which owns the RCA Records label, is partly responsible for giving the record producer 'a platform to continue his abuse.'

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Daggers drawn: Kesha, who's suing producer Dr Luke for sexual assault, now claims that Sony Music Entertainment is also partly responsible because it turned a blind eye to the abusive way he treated her
Daggers drawn: Kesha, who's suing producer Dr Luke for sexual assault, now claims that Sony Music Entertainment is also partly responsible because it turned a blind eye to the abusive way he treated her

Daggers drawn: Kesha (left), who's suing producer Dr Luke (right) for sexual assault, has claimed that Sony Music Entertainment is also partly responsible because it turned a blind eye to the abusive way he treated her

The site added  the new court documents allege Sony Music put female artists 'in physical danger by giving Dr. Luke full creative and business control, with nearly limitless financial resources, over young female artists who necessarily were compelled to become dependent upon his good will.'

The filing continues: 'Dr. Luke's proclivity for abusive conduct was open and obvious to [Sony Music Entertainment] Doe executives, who either knew of the conduct and turned a blind eye, failed to investigate Dr. Luke's conduct, failed to take any corrective action, or actively concealed Dr. Luke's abuse.'

Kesha - born Kesha Rose Sebert - filed a sexual assault civil suit against the music producer in October 2014 in LA, claiming Dr Luke had drugged her and 'forced himself' on her, threatened to take away her publishing rights and constantly belittled her appearance, driving her to bulimia.

Pointing the finger: In new court documents, the 28-year-old singer and songwriter alleged that Sony Music puts female artists in physical danger because they're so dependent on the producer's good will; here Kesha is seen in May

Pointing the finger: In new court documents, the 28-year-old singer and songwriter alleged that Sony Music puts female artists in physical danger because they're so dependent on the producer's good will; here Kesha is seen in May

In response, the producer denied the allegations and lodged his own defamation lawsuit in New York, saying the singer had fabricated the supposed incidents in an extortion scheme to get out of an exclusive recording contract. 

The Animal and Warrior singer claims the company is desperate for 'pop sensations' because of declining sales and that it's invested $60 million in Dr Luke and his ability to find new talent, a 'substantial investment' it wants to protect.

Keysha is also claiming the producer, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, refused to renegotiate agreements with her.

'Based on SME's conduct, SME has forced an abusive relationship between Dr. Luke and Ms. Sebert to this day,' the documents state.

Once a team: Kesha and Dr Luke enjoyed success with her album Animal. Her follow-up Warrior wasn't as big a hit and the two but had a falling out. They're seen here on stage at the 2011 ASCAP Pop Music Awards

Once a team: Kesha and Dr Luke enjoyed success with her album Animal. Her follow-up Warrior wasn't as big a hit and the two but had a falling out. They're seen here on stage at the 2011 ASCAP Pop Music Awards

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the amended complaint could be a clever gambit by the artist and her legal team to make sure her civil suit in LA goes ahead before a judge hears Dr. Luke's defamation suit in New York.

Dr Luke's attorneys have been pressing the New York courts to move ahead with a hearing because the contract between Kesha and Dr Luke contains a forum selection clause, a legal term for the parties having previously agreed as to how  and where complaints should be handled - in this case, in New York.

By also suing Sony, Kesha gets around that caveat since her attorneys, led by Mark Geragos, contend there's no New York forum clause in the agreement with the record label.

Denies: Dr Luke, pictured in 2013, has said that Kesha made up the claims against him to try and extricate herself from an exclusive recording contract. He has filed a defamation civil suit against her in New York

Denies: Dr Luke, pictured in 2013, has said that Kesha made up the claims against him to try and extricate herself from an exclusive recording contract. He has filed a defamation civil suit against her in New York

Sony has so far declined to comment on the situation. 

However, Christine Lepera, attorney for Dr. Luke, told the industry trade that the new development 'seems like a desperate effort.'

'It's conclusions without facts, and there's nothing new. They are trying to embroil Sony and it won't work,' she said.

In late  March, Dr Luke demanded that one-time chart topper produce medical evidence to support allegations that he sexually and physically abused her

'(Kesha), who never reported the allegations to any authorities, chose a convenient, long-ago time period for the false allegations because she knew the evidence would show that she and Gottwald have not seen each other in years,' court paperwork filed by Dr. Luke’s lawyers stated.

Not backing down: In her filing it was claimed, 'Dr. Luke's proclivity for abusive conduct was open and obvious to [Sony Music Entertainment] Doe executives, who either knew of the conduct and turned a blind eye, failed to investigate Dr. Luke's conduct, failed to take any corrective action, or actively concealed Dr. Luke's abuse'

Not backing down: In her filing it was claimed, 'Dr. Luke's proclivity for abusive conduct was open and obvious to [Sony Music Entertainment] Doe executives, who either knew of the conduct and turned a blind eye, failed to investigate Dr. Luke's conduct, failed to take any corrective action, or actively concealed Dr. Luke's abuse'

 

 

 

 

 

 

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