Ryan Hagen | OCR
Rocker Gene Simmons has settled a lawsuit brought by a broadcaster who alleged Simmons made unwarranted sexual advances during an on-camera interview at the San Manuel Casino near Highland.
Los Angeles County Superior court documents show that an attorney informed the court Monday, July 2, that the case was settled, but it doesn’t provide details of the settlement. Another hearing is set for Aug. 10 to dismiss the case.
A representative for Kiss band member Simmons couldn’t be reached Monday, July 9. When the suit was filed, Simmons said he “did not assault the person making these accusations in the manner alleged in the complaint or harm her in any way.”
“And I look forward to my day in court where the evidence will prove my innocence,” he added.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 15, alleges Simmons reached over and grabbed the hand of the radio personality, identified as Jane Doe, and “forcefully placed it on his knee and held it on his knee” during a Nov. 1 celebration of the reopening of a casino restaurant. Rock & Brews, co-founded by Simmons and Kiss bandmate Paul Stanley, had finished months of remodeling at its San Manuel Casino location.
The lawsuit accuses Simmons of turning interview questions into sexual innuendos and grabbing the woman’s hand again and making a cooing sound as he said she “must use lotion” before making another sexual innuendo. He then “forcibly flicked/struck” the woman in her throat and provided an “incoherent explanation” for doing so, the lawsuit alleges.
The woman ended the interview early but agreed to promotional photos, during which Simmons “reached toward Plaintiff Doe’s buttocks and touched it,” according to the lawsuit.
The woman’s attorney, Willie W. Williams, was not immediately available Monday afternoon, July 9. In a December interview, Williams said his client was not seeking publicity and wished to remain anonymous.
“My client is embarrassed and humiliated by the incident with Mr. Simmons,” Williams said at the time. “… She filed suit because she wanted to make a strong statement that this behavior is unacceptable and she wants to see an end to this type of behavior.”
Simmons, who was on a tour promoting his book “On Power,” was banned by Fox News several weeks after the alleged San Manuel incident for exposing his torso during an interview and shouting “Hey chicks, sue me,” the Daily Beast website reported. Simmons said the report was exaggerated.
A representative for Rock & Brews wasn’t available Monday.
The settlement was first reported Monday by The Blast website.