A Los Angeles judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Vin Diesel, brought by his former assistant who accused him of sexual assault in 2010, due to jurisdictional technicalities. The Vin Diesel lawsuit dismissal was issued on Wednesday after the court ruled California law could not apply because the alleged incident happened in Atlanta, Georgia.
Court Determines Claim Cannot Proceed in California
L.A. County Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Crowley delivered a summary judgment that found the remaining claims from Asta Jonasson against Vin Diesel were not legally viable in California courts, because the alleged events took place outside the state. Earlier, Judge Crowley had dismissed four other claims, pointing to the statute of limitations as a barrier to their consideration.
Crowley clearly stated in his ruling,
“Plaintiff’s causes of action impermissibly apply California law to extraterritorial conduct in the State of Georgia,”
Judge Daniel M. Crowley. He added,
“California authorities make clear that California law cannot be applied to any of plaintiff’s claims.”
Judge Daniel M. Crowley.
Reactions from Legal Teams and Appeal Plans
Asta Jonasson’s attorney, Matthew T. Hale, expressed disappointment with the outcome and explained that the decision was based on a legal technicality rather than the facts of the allegations. Hale announced Jonasson’s intent to appeal, stating,
“The Court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Jonasson’s allegations. The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.”
Matthew T. Hale, Attorney for Asta Jonasson.
On the other side, Bryan J. Freedman, who represents Vin Diesel, responded with,
“We are grateful that the court put an end to this meritless lawsuit. We are pleased that this matter has been resolved entirely.”
Bryan J. Freedman, Attorney for Vin Diesel.
Details of the Allegation and Claims Against Production Company
Jonasson’s lawsuit, originally filed in December 2023, described an incident during the filming of “Fast Five” in September 2010. According to Jonasson, she was employed as Diesel’s assistant when members of his security team asked her to accompany the actor to a new location. She went to his hotel room at the St. Regis in Atlanta after being unable to reach him by phone, where she accused Diesel of sexually assaulting her.
In the court filings, Jonasson claimed Diesel grabbed her wrists, groped her, attempted to remove her underwear, and pinned her against a wall while masturbating, despite her pleas for him to stop. She also accused Diesel’s production company, One Race Productions, of wrongful termination, retaliation, and failing to provide adequate supervision, asserting that she was let go just hours after the alleged assault, with the company telling her that her services were no longer needed.
Impact and What Lies Ahead
This Vin Diesel lawsuit dismissal for jurisdictional reasons is significant for both parties involved. Though the court’s decision ended the legal proceedings in California, Jonasson’s lawyer has confirmed plans to appeal. The public attention and distress surrounding these allegations continue to affect both Asta Jonasson and Vin Diesel. As the matter moves toward a possible appeal, questions persist about how legal technicalities and cross-state jurisdiction impact the resolution of such high-profile cases involving entertainment industry figures in locations such as Los Angeles and Atlanta.
