Jermaine Jackson faces lawsuit over accusations of sexual assault of woman in 1988

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A woman has accused Michael Jackson's elder brother Jermaine Jackson of sexual assault and battery.

The accuser, identified as Rita Butler Barrett, alleged that she was victimized in or around the spring of 1988 as she filed a lawsuit against the 69-year-old in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, December 27, People reported.

Jermaine Jackson allegedly continued raping the woman until he was ‘satiated’

In her suit, which was filed under the California Sexual Abuse and Cover-Up Accountability Act, Barrett claimed that she endured sexual battery, sexual abuse, sexual assault, negligence, and rape at the hand of Michael Jackson's elder brother.

Besides, the filing reportedly named Jermaine L Jackson Music Productions, Inc. and Work Records, Inc. as co-defendants, along with Jermaine himself.

The details included in the official papers noted that Barrett and Jermaine were familiar with each other for years before the alleged incident because of “professional and personal connections.”

The woman’s husband Ben Barrett and Berry Gordy, who was reportedly "in a business and/or management relationship" with the bassist, had a close professional relationship.

In 1988, the accused allegedly forced himself inside Barrett’s home after arriving there announced. Following this, he allegedly sexually abused Rita Butler Barrett with "force and violence," the lawsuit alleged, adding that he left when he was "satiated."

Rita Butler Barrett ‘feared for her life’

The papers also stated, “During the assault, Plaintiff, a woman of faith prayed to God for help. During the assault, Plaintiff feared for her life.”

As per the plaintiff, she informed Gordy about the alleged assault the next day but he “withheld and concealed the acts” to keep their professional relationship intact while making money.

Barrett, in her suit, asserted that there had been a coverup in order to "prevent disclosure of information relating to the abuse for the purpose of profit and preservation of reputation."

Rita Butler Barrett ‘suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault’

The suit further noted that the accuser “suffered severe emotional, physical, and psychological injury, including humiliation, shame, guilt, economic loss, economic capacity, and permanent emotional distress” following the 1988 assault.

Barrett's lawyer Jeff Anderson also released a statement, where he mentioned that the woman “suffered an egregious and violent sexual assault.”

Anderson added, “This is about her power and the declaration of it when she learned something could be done under the law, and she found the strength and support to find us and is now standing up for herself and others.”