Jermaine Jackson says a $6.5 million rape lawsuit judgment caught him completely off guard and overshadowed what should have been a celebratory moment for his family during the rollout of the blockbuster Michael biopic starring his son, Jaafar Jackson.
According to newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ, the Jackson family member claims he had no knowledge of Rita Butler Barrett's lawsuit or the default judgment entered against him until questions about the case surfaced while he was participating in promotional activities for the film.
In the filing, Jermaine said he was "shocked and deeply concerned about the effect of those reports on my reputation and on the promotion of my son's motion picture."
He also argued that the headlines overshadowed what should have been a major family milestone.
"The coverage of the default judgment ruined what should have been a proud and important professional moment for my son and our family," Jermaine said in the court documents.
The judgment stems from a lawsuit filed by Barrett in December 2023 under California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act. In her complaint, Barrett alleged that Jermaine sexually assaulted her in 1988 after arriving at her home uninvited. She further claimed that Motown founder Berry Gordy later helped conceal the alleged incident to protect Jermaine's career.
Jermaine has denied the allegations.
Now, he is seeking to have the default judgment overturned, arguing that he was never properly notified about the lawsuit and therefore never had the opportunity to defend himself in court.
In the new filing, Jermaine maintained that he did not intentionally avoid the legal proceedings and said he is prepared to fight the allegations if the court agrees to vacate the judgment.
The lawsuit also included claims from a second woman, Cathy Adams, a former Star Search contestant, who alleged Jermaine assaulted her during a tour stop in Japan in 1990. Jermaine has denied those allegations as well.
The legal battle unfolded as Michael emerged as a major box-office hit. The film, which stars Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop, has generated widespread attention and praise, with many critics highlighting Jaafar's performance as one of the movie's standout elements.
