Kevin Liles Filed A Dismissal In Sexual Assault Lawsuit

Kevin Liles has asked a New York court to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit filed by a former Def Jam employee, calling the allegations both unfounded and too old to prosecute.

The music executive, now chairman and CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment, submitted a motion on Tuesday, April 8, arguing that the claims fail to meet legal standards and fall outside the statute of limitations.

The anonymous accuser, who worked at Def Jam in the early 2000s, alleges Liles sexually assaulted her between 2000 and 2002. Her claims include rape, groping, and persistent harassment during her employment. She filed suit under New York’s recently amended Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which allows survivors to revive long-expired claims until March 1, 2025.

Liles’ legal team asserts the complaint lacks factual detail and is too vague to proceed. They also argue that despite the legal window created by the 2022 law, the allegations remain too distant in time to ensure due process. In the motion, they contend the complaint fails to meet the specificity required to survive judicial scrutiny.

The lawsuit names Universal Music Group and Def Jam Recordings as additional defendants, accusing the companies of fostering an environment where misconduct could flourish. According to the filing, both corporations “knew or should have known” of Liles’ alleged conduct and played a role in enabling it. The suit claims corporate inaction and complicity contributed to the abuse.

The court has not yet responded to the dismissal request. The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal actions brought under the state’s lookback law, which has opened the door to revisiting decades-old allegations across multiple industries, including entertainment.

Whether the judge allows the case to proceed will likely depend on how the court interprets the law’s scope and the sufficiency of the claims.