The singer will proceed with her case in New York, appealing an April ruling in which her sexual assault allegations against producer Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald were dismissed. For now.
The California case, which accused Dr. Luke of sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, and gender violence, among other charges, has been dropped. Kesha filed suit in October 2014, saying the abuse she suffered under Dr. Luke led to her eating disorder and an inability to produce music and fulfill her contract with his label. The decision to drop the case is linked to her desire to continue to work on her music.
Rolling Stone reports that Kesha has produced 28 songs for her label, which is still headed by the man she accused of raping her. Her last album for Kemosabe Records was Warriors in 2012. Her lawyer, Daniel Petrocelli, said in a statement:
Kesha has dismissed her California action without prejudice while she pursues her appeal and other legal claims in the New York courts… Kesha is focused on getting back to work and has delivered 28 new songs to the record label. We have conveyed to Sony and the label Kesha’s strong desire to release her next album and single as soon as possible.
One claim remains standing, in which Dr. Luke is asking for more than that she fulfill her contract—he wants money damages. One of his attorneys, Christine Lepera, sent an email to Rolling Stone stating that Kesha’s decision to drop the charges in California have nothing to do with her desire to restart her career:
If Kesha is voluntarily dismissing her claims in the California case, it is because she has no chance of winning them. Earlier this year, she lost her meritless counterclaims against Dr. Luke in the New York Action. Recently, the California Court invited Dr. Luke and the other defendants to move to dismiss Kesha’s claims in that action. Kesha never should have brought her false and meritless claims against Dr. Luke in any court. Dr. Luke’s defamation and other claims against Kesha are still proceeding.
It’s a bit confusing unless you have been following the case moment to moment, but suits were pending bicoastally once Dr. Luke filed a counter-suit against Kesha for defamation in New York. Los Angeles Supreme Court Judge, Barbara M. Scheper, put Kesha’s case in CA on hold. When Kesha lost in New York and filed her appeal, Judge Scheper still refused to lift her stay. With the cases pending, it would be difficult or impossible for her to release her new album and tour again.
