Vin Diesel’s sexual assault lawsuit was dismissed on a technicality

Vin Diesel will face no more lawsuits in Los Angeles in the sexual assault lawsuit filed against the “Fast & Furious” star by a former assistant two years ago.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed the complaint filed by Diesel’s accuser, Asta Jonasson, citing technical grounds.

In her December 2023 lawsuit, Jonasson said she worked as Diesel’s assistant in 2010 while filming Fast Five in Atlanta, and alleged the actor sexually assaulted her in a hotel room.

Her lawsuit raises 10 claims, including sexual assault, retaliation and multiple violations of the California Fair Employment and Housing Act. The complaint also sought action against Diesel’s production company, One Race Films, and its president, Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister.

Judge Daniel M. Crowley called Jonasson’s argument “indefensible” and inconsistent with the intent of state law in his dismissal document. Also, since the sexual assault occurred in Georgia, the judge said California was not the appropriate jurisdiction to file the complaint.

California law cannot be “applied to any of the plaintiff’s claims,” ​​Crowley said.

The case was scheduled to go to trial in February before Wednesday’s decision. “The court has not decided anything about the truth of Ms. Johnson’s allegations,” Jonasson’s attorney, Matthew T. Hill, said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The ruling was based on a legal procedure,” Hill said. “We disagree with the ruling, and are evaluating next steps.”

Diesel’s legal representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

In her complaint, Jonasson alleged that Diesel touched her, pinned her against a wall, and placed her hand on his genitals without her consent during the encounter in the hotel room. The 58-year-old actress, through attorney Brian Friedman, denied the allegations shortly after Jonasson filed her complaint.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of this claim that’s over 13 years old made by an employee who allegedly worked nine days,” Friedman said. “There is clear evidence that completely refutes these outlandish claims.”