Mayor Eric Adams desires a choose to dismiss the sexual harassment lawsuit in opposition to him as a result of his accuser missed deposition dates.
Hizzoner’s authorized workforce accused plaintiff Lorna Seaside-Mathura of partaking in “misconduct” over the missed grilling dates, the newest one being Sept. 6.
Adams’ lawyer, Alex Spiro, is also asking the choose to make her pay for the entire protection’s authorized charges.
“New York courts have constantly discovered {that a} grievance ought to be dismissed the place a plaintiff fails to look for court-ordered depositions,” Spiro stated in a courtroom submitting submitted Monday to Manhattan state Supreme Court docket Choose Richard Latin.
“Within the almost ten months since plaintiff initiated this lawsuit, she has refused to look for her deposition on 4 separate events, and every time with none justification below the regulation,” the lawyer wrote.
“Plaintiff’s unjustified, months-long refusal to supply deposition testimony—together with in direct
defiance of this Court docket’s Orders—warrants dismissal standing alone.”
Spiro stated Seaside-Mathura has “pissed off” efforts by Adams and different defendants — together with the NYPD and Guardians’ Affiliation — to acquire written and documentary discovery.
“This willful misconduct has induced defendants important prejudice as a result of they’ve been unable to acquire even fundamental discovery from plaintiff within the greater than 9 months since she filed this lawsuit,” Spiro wrote.
The authorized skirmish comes because the Adams’ administration is engulfed in a sweeping federal corruption and influence-peddling probe concentrating on prime brass of the NYPD.
It included raids final week on the houses of prime mayoral appointees together with Deputy Mayor for Public Security Phil Banks, his brother, faculties Chancellor David Banks, and David’s fiancee, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.
Nobody has been charged with wrongdoing.
Manhattan federal prosecutors are additionally eying claims that the Turkish authorities illegally funneled cash to Adams’ marketing campaign.
Seaside-Mathura initiated her lawsuit by submitting a authorized discover Nov. 22 — two days earlier than the expiration to file below the New York Grownup Survivors Act.
She accused Adams of assaulting her greater than three many years in the past when the pair labored collectively within the NYPD’s Transit Bureau.
Seaside-Matura’s go well with — which calls the mayor a “predator” — claims that Adams uncovered himself to her in a “vacant lot” in 1993 and demanded oral intercourse in alternate for him assist advancing her profession.
Court docket papers declare she instructed 9 individuals concerning the alleged assault, together with seven individuals earlier than the 2022 passing of the Grownup Survivors Act, a regulation that gave New Yorkers one yr to file sex-assault claims that might in any other case fall exterior the statute of limitations.
Seaside-Matura’s lawyer, Megan Goddard, didn’t reply to a Publish request for remark.
Throughout a feisty courtroom listening to final month, Spiro, who has represented celebrities akin to Jay-Z and Elon Musk, argued that Seaside-Mathura had supplied “no info” to again up her claims, together with the date of the alleged assault.
“I don’t settle circumstances which might be fictitious, your Honor,” Spiro stated, he instructed the choose.
Goddard accused Spiro of “gaslighting” the courtroom by falsely suggesting that Seaside-Mathura had failed to supply proof corroborating her claims.