Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. Faces Two Lawsuits Over Sexual Assault

Hollywood actor, Cuba Gooding Jr has been hit with two sexual assault lawsuits that ended with him pleading guilty but serving no jail time.

The lawsuits were filed on Wednesday in the New York Supreme Court under the state’s Adult Survivors Act, which is set to expire this week. The law gives plaintiffs a window to file civil claims of sexual offenses that have otherwise been barred by the statute of limitations.

In the suits, Gooding is accused of groping two women in two separate incidents at New York restaurants in 2018 and 2019.

In one of the new lawsuits, a cocktail waitress, Jasmine Abbay working at LAVO restaurant and nightclub in New York accused Gooding of forcing his tongue in her mouth without her consent. Gooding pleaded guilty to a charge related to the incident last year. The lawsuit includes a portion of the transcript from an April 2022 hearing where Gooding admitted to the conduct. 

In the second suit, Kelsey Harbert alleged that Gooding Jr groped her breast after she had sat down next to him and his girlfriend at Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge in 2019.

In response, Ms Harbert “grabbed” Gooding Jr’s hand “in order to remove it from her breast” before the actor “took her hand, put it up to his mouth, and tried to kiss it,” the suit claims.

Gloria Allred, who is representing the two plaintiffs, said in a statement, “Our clients were deprived of the justice they sought in the criminal case. They are now seeking justice and accountability in their civil cases. We are proud of their courage and intend to vigorously fight for them until they win the justice that they deserve.”

Back in 2022, Gooding Jr faced criminal charges over these same allegations.

He pleaded guilty to both charges after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors.

The actor received no prison time after a judge determined he had followed the terms of the plea deal.