Former Bad Boy President Harve Pierre Sued for Alleged Sexual Assault and Negligence
The label president's ex-assistant alleges he "used his position of authority as [her] boss to groom, exploit, and sexually assault her"
Jamie McCarthy/WireImage
Harve PierreJust days since Sean “Diddy” Combs "amicably settled" a lawsuit where his ex-girlfriend Cassie accused him of rape, sex trafficking and domestic violence, a former president of Bad Boy Records has been accused of grooming, sexual harassment and sexual assault by a former assistant.
In documents obtained by PEOPLE, a Jane Doe plaintiff has alleged that Harve Pierre, a longtime executive of Bad Boy Records, "used his position of authority" to "groom, exploit, and sexually assault her."
According to the anonymous assistant, “Pierre engaged in a year-long pattern of grooming plaintiff, leading to sexual harassment of plaintiff, and sexual assault."
The filing claims that Pierre sexually assaulted the plaintiff on "multiple occasions in New York City and other locations throughout the country" during 2016 and 2017. As a result, she claims she suffered "physical, psychological, and emotional injuries."
Related: Diddy's Ex Cassie Accuses Him of Rape, Sex Trafficking, Domestic Violence in Lawsuit
The plaintiff is asking for damages that "will fully and fairly compensate" her for the alleged injuries.
Alongside Pierre, Bad Boy Entertainment, Bad Boy Records and Combs Enterprises, LLC. have been named as co-defendants and have been accused of gender-motivated violence and negligence.
"Defendants failed to properly supervise Pierre, properly supervise Plaintiff, and protect Plaintiff from a known danger, and, thereby enabled Pierre’s sexual assaults of Plaintiff," the lawsuit alleges.
The plaintiff also claimed the defendants "knew or should have known that Pierre was not fit to be in a position of authority."
"We have recently become aware of a lawsuit filed in New York by a former employee . The allegations are from many years ago that were never brought to the attention of the company. Neither the plaintiff nor the executive is current employees of the company. We are now investigating the allegations, and our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees," a Bad Boy Entertainment spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE.
Harve Pierre has yet to respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
The lawsuit was filed under the Adult Survivors Act, which is set to expire on Nov. 24, allowed a period of one year for people who are survivors of sexual assault in New York to seek justice even if the statute of limitations had passed.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Pierre, who currently calls himself a "partial owner" of Bad Boy, began his career there in 1991 before he left in 2017. During his time there, Pierre oversaw "Finance, Creative, Radio & Street Promotions, Marketing, A&R/Administration, Publicity, Digital, Content Management, International, Business Affairs and Sales divisions at the label." He also has more than 70 executive producer/A&R Album credits, as well as 40 music video editor credits, including a few directing debuts, per his profile.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Harve Pierre and Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles in June 2017Bad Boy Entertainment was also named in the lawsuit Cassie, 37, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, filed against Combs, 54, accusing him of rape, sexual assault and sex trafficking.
The lawsuit, which was initially reported by The New York Times on Friday and was obtained by PEOPLE, alleged Ventura was stuck in a decade-long “cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.”
“After years in silence and darkness, I am finally ready to tell my story, and to speak up on behalf of myself and for the benefit of other women who face violence and abuse in their relationships,” she said in a statement at the time of filing.
“With the expiration of New York’s Adult Survivors Act fast approaching, it became clear that this was an opportunity to speak up about the trauma I have experienced and that I will be recovering from for the rest of my life.”
Combs’ lawyer Ben Brafman had denied Ventura's allegations.
Just one day after the "Me & U singer" filed the aforementioned lawsuit against Combs, they reached a settlement to their "mutual satisfaction." The parties explained that there will be no further details about the terms of the agreement released publicly.
“I have decided to resolve this matter amicably on terms that I have some level of control,” Ventura said in a statement. “I want to thank my family, fans and lawyers for their unwavering support.”
Related: Diddy's Ex Cassie Accuses Him of Rape, Sex Trafficking, Domestic Violence in Lawsuit
Her attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said, “I am very proud of Ms. Ventura for having the strength to go public with her lawsuit. She ought to be commended for doing so.”
Combs added, “We have decided to resolve this matter amicably. I wish Cassie and her family all the best. Love.”
Brafman clarified his client's stance on the issue, telling PEOPLE in a statement, "Just so we’re clear, a decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best."
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