2 months ago
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Jhené Aiko claimed she was insulted and mocked by a lawyer representing an individual suing her over a 2022 car crash and she asked a judge to step in, In Touch can exclusively report.
According to court documents obtained by In Touch, Jhené, 36, asked a judge to issue an order blocking the release of her videotaped deposition.
In February, Jhené was sued by an individual named Genelle Ligot over an alleged car accident. Jhené denied all allegations of wrongdoing. The parties are now fighting over the terms of Jhene’s deposition.
The entertainer said that Genelle served her a notice of deposition in September.
Jhené said she objected to the location of the deposition, “which intended [Jhené] to be physically present at [Genelle’s] counsel’s law firm on the grounds that [Jhené] is not claiming any injury from the [crash] therefore there is no need for [her] to be physically in person at the deposition.”
Jhené also objected to the deposition being videotaped due to her being famous.
The singer said Genelle’s lawyer responded to Jhené’s objection stating, “We are entitled to a deposition of your client in our office and we are well within our rights to videotape the deposition … celebrities don’t get special treatment.”
Jhené’s lawyer asked the opposing counsel if they would agree that any video of the deposition would not be released to third parties, including the media, and would be destroyed after the case was over.
Genelle’s lawyer wrote, “[If] your client is such a critically acclaimed artist with so many accolades then why is she driving around with $50,000 of insurance coverage?”
Jhené’s lawyer said they continued to try to talk to Genelle’s lawyers but were met with “additional insults that mocked [Jhené’s] achievements.”
They quoted an email they received from Genelle’s lawyer.
It read, “[y]our client can’t claim she is a celebrity of high status, while simultaneously maintaining a $50,000 insurance policy. If your client wishes to protect her alleged ‘celebrity status’ and her ‘accolades’ then she can make a good faith offer to settle this matter short of extensive litigation…Otherwise you can file your motion…Your client is irresponsible, yet wishes to use her ‘celebrity’ status to protect her, but at the same time fails to take the actions that would be consistent with her ‘celebrity’ status – i.e. getting insurance coverage that would match her alleged fame and fortune.”
Jhené’s lawyer said Genelle’s lawyer wrote on October 28, “Your client can’t use her ‘celebrity’ status as a sword when she has a $50,000 policy – no judge is going for that.”
The singer’s lawyer said they told Genelle’s team Jhené never refused to appear for a deposition but wanted a protective order in place to prevent the video from leaking. Jhené said Genelle’s team has refused to agree.
Her lawyer added, “The public disclosure and dissemination of Defendant’s deposition testimony would serve no purpose other than to harass and cause unnecessary embarrassment.”
The judge has yet to rule. In the lawsuit, Genelle said they were driving in Encino, California, on July 2, 2022. They said they “stopped at a traffic light when [Jhené] struck [them] from behind.”
Genelle said that “due to the negligent actions of [Jhené] while operating a motor vehicle, [Genelle] was injured in health, strength and activity.” The lawsuit sought unspecified damages for the alleged loss of wages, loss of use of property, hospital and medical expenses and property damages.
Jhené denied all allegations of wrongdoing in the case. In her response, Jhené said Genelle was barred from seeking damages due to their negligence proximately contributed to their injuries and damages.
The entertainer accused Genelle of being uninsured on the date in question. She also said Genelle was “negligent” because Genelle “failed to wear a seat belt, which would have avoided or made less severe, [Genelle’s] alleged injuries and damages.”
Jhené demanded the entire lawsuit be thrown out and Genelle not be awarded a dime.
English (US) ·