Anti-Flag band members’ firm dismissed from Justin Sane sexual assault go well with

A courtroom has dismissed the corporate owned by former members of Anti-Flag from a sexual assault lawsuit involving the band’s frontman, Justin Sane.

Accusations in opposition to the singer – actual identify Justin Geever – got here to gentle in 2023, when Kristina Sarhadi, a New York holistic therapist and well being coach, filed a lawsuit in opposition to him.

Per MetalInjection, Sarhadi then filed a lawsuit in opposition to Anti-Flag’s enterprise, Hardwork Distribution Inc., accusing the band of negligence in addition to negligent infliction of emotional misery. The enterprise is owned by band members Pat Thetic (Patrick Bollinger), Chris Head, and Chris No. 2 (Chris Barker).

Nevertheless, in December New York Choose Brenda Ok. Sannes dismissed the lawsuit in opposition to Hardwork Distribution Inc., citing an absence of provable ties between Geever’s actions and the corporate itself.

The go well with in opposition to Geever by Sarhadi stays, with filings alleging Geever had “used his platform as a celebrated, self-proclaimed ‘punk rock star’ to groom and lure weak ladies into feeling protected in his presence.”

It continued: “Whereas he sang about defending girls and standing as much as abusers, it seems he was hiding an habit to energy and management, harming numerous girls who've been unable to talk up prior to now. In the present day I hope to encourage his survivors, and survivors of different predators within the music trade, to really feel hope once more.”

Geever didn't reply to requests for remark on the time, however later shared a press release denying all accusations raised in opposition to him. Information of the accusations coincided with the band saying their sudden cut up in 2023, which got here with none sort of rationalization. They then deleted all of their social media accounts and their official web site.

On that very same day, an episode of the podcast Enough was launched, wherein a girl spoke about being raped by a singer in a political punk band. She didn't identify the band or singer, however many speculated on the time that she was referring to Geever. It was later confirmed that this lady was Sarhadi.

A number of days after the cut up, Geever issued his assertion, which learn: “Just lately, there have been claims of sexual assault made in opposition to me and I can let you know that these tales are categorically false.

“I've by no means engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual, nor have I ever been approached by a girl after a sexual encounter and been informed I had in any manner acted with out her consent or violated her in any manner.”

Final 12 months Sarhadi had amended her grievance and claimed that Geever had “purposefully and unlawfully tried to keep away from service” within the lawsuit she introduced in opposition to him. It additionally claimed that the punk musician had bought his home in Pittsburgh, tried to “cover his property by transferring funds abroad to an Irish checking account”, and reportedly deliberate “to flee to Europe”.