Update:
- Lawyers for former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael S. Jeffries say a federal criminal probe into Jeffries should put class action litigation against him on hold.
- Jeffries’ representatives asked U.S. District Judge Jennifer H. Rearden to file a grand jury subpoena and comparison chart of the subpoena and class action complaint under seal.
- The plaintiff and class members claim to be victims of the sex-trafficking allegations the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York is investigating, a letter from the lawyers’ firm, Nelson Mullins LLP, says.
- Civil action on a complaint must be paused during a criminal investigation into the same topic, Jeffries’ lawyers write.
Abercrombie & Fitch sex trafficking class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: David Bradberry filed a class action lawsuit against Abercrombie & Fitch Co., its CEO Michael S. Jeffries, his partner Matthew Smith and the Jeffries Family Office LLC.
- Why: Bradberry claims Abercrombie knowingly aided and abetted an alleged sex-trafficking operation run by its then-CEO Michael Jeffries.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
(Nov. 2, 2023)
Retail company Abercrombie & Fitch participated and was intentionally involved in a widespread sex-trafficking operation led by its then-CEO Michael Jeffries, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff David Bradberry claims Jeffries, the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch from 1992 to 2014, preyed upon “attractive young men” who were led to believe they were going to be hired as models for the company.
Bradberry, a former Abercrombie model, argues that, instead, the aspiring models were sexually abused by Jeffries and other men under his control “under the guise of becoming the next Abercrombie model.”
“Abercrombie knew about, endorsed, and ratified Jeffries’s and (partner Matthew Smith’s) use of the Abercrombie brand to sexually abuse young men,” the Abercrombie class action states.
Bradberry wants to represent a class of all men sexually abused by Abercrombie & Fitch, Jefferies, Smith or any of their associates during the time Jefferies was employed as Abercrombie CEO from 1992 through 2014.
Abercrombie willingly funded former CEO’s alleged sex trafficking, class action says
Bradberry argues Abercrombie was aware it was “providing the financial lifeblood” for Jeffries’ alleged sex-trafficking operation, but allegedly was willing to do so because their then-CEO was “so important to the profitability of the brand”
“Abercrombie knowingly and intentionally benefited and received things of value from Jeffries and his sex-trafficking operation, including the value Jeffries himself brought to the brand,” the Abercrombie class action states.
Bradberry, amidst a number of claims against Jeffries, Smith, Abercrombie and the Jeffries Family Office, argues Abercrombie is — among other things — guilty of conspiracy to commit violations of the Trafficking Victim Protection Act.
The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting an award of compensatory, consequential, general, nominal, punitive and exemplary damages for himself and all class members.
In another case involving Abercrombie, the company agreed to pay $9.6 million in 2018 to end claims it failed to pay its employees the minimum two-hours legally required during their on-call scheduling shifts.
Do you believe Abercrombie & Fitch aided and abetted its former CEO with his alleged sex-trafficking operation? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Bradley J. Edwards and Brittany N. Henderson of Edwards Henderson Lehrman.
The Abercrombie & Fitch sex trafficking class action lawsuit is Bradberry v. Abercrombie & Fitch Co., et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-09440, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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