A prominent Los Angeles-based producer of rap concerts is now on the hook for a $15 million judgment after failing to respond to a sexual assault lawsuit.

The court entered a default judgement against Noel “Detail” Fisher when he failed to respond to the complaint filed by a woman who says the defendant raped and abused her over the course of a year and more.

Case Background

Plaintiff Krista B. moved from Indiana to Southern California in order to pursue a career in modeling and music in 2016. Shortly after her arrival, she met defendant Fisher, a Grammy Award winner who has worked with several prominent recording artists. Krista alleges Fisher drew her in to his circle using false promises that he would assist her in advancing her show biz career.

According to the complaint, he became increasingly manipulative and abusive over time. Krista says this abuse included verbal abuse and psychological manipulation, then soon progressed to physical assault, including multiple instances of rape. On one occasion, the defendant allegedly put the sexual assault on video.

She says she was finally able to escape in May 2018 after her sister assisted her in reporting him to local law enforcement.

Accountability

The plaintiff filed her lawsuit in December 2018, alleging assault, sexual battery, harassment, gender violence and emotional distress, some of which can incur criminal penalties. The potential criminal liability may explain why the defendant never responded to the complaint, and in fact, vanished after the plaintiff served him with a permanent restraining order.

Attempts to reach Fisher included use of a process server and the publication of a summons in a local paper. According to court documents, the defendant “… actively avoided service of process in this civil action and has been on more than sufficient notice of the allegations.”

The default judgment of $15 million was entered on September 26th, 2019.

Hollywood’s History of Sexual Assault

Since the birth of the modern film and entertainment industry in the early 20th century, Hollywood has been a hotbed of “casting couch” harassment, sexual abuse and manipulation. As with doctors and ride share drivers, Hollywood execs have power over others that is vulnerable to being abused.

One of the earliest allegations of sexual assault in Hollywood was made in 1921 against Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, who was accused of raping actress Virgina Rappe in an assault so violent that she died four days afterward. Although Arbuckle’s widely-publicized trial ended in an acquittal, the scandal brought his career to an end.

Other famous cases have involved prominent film directors and producers, including Roman Polanski, Woody Allen and Harvey Weinstein.

Krista’s counsel commented to Law360 that “it’s about time that the industry clean up its act.” He adds that his client’s case “… speaks to the Me Too movement in the music industry, not just the television and movie industry.”

Indeed, if there is any silver lining to this issue, it is that movements such as Me Too and Time’s Up (founded by Hollywood’s own in the wake of the Weinstein scandal) are forcing the entertainment industry to face what has been happening for the past century – and hold offenders accountable.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.