Bright $77 million sexual violence and a sexual battery claim against Tyler Perry Filed by the same lawyer who was behind a previous similar lawsuit earlier this year, it's just more of the same in search of payout, claims 'devoted' Madea famous lawyer of the star.
“Having recently failed in another case against Mr. Perry, the same attorney has now brought forward another claim made over a decade ago that will also be a failed money grab,” Alex Spiro said today of the jury trial in Mario Rodriguez v. Perry and “Ugh! Madea's Halloween! distributor Lionsgate.
Spiro, who successfully represented Alec Baldwin, Jay-Z and many celebrities over the years with a slugger's approach have certainly put forward the theory of how he wants Jonathan Delshad to argue Rodriguez's case in Los Angeles Superior Court so that it burns to the ground.
There's no denying that Rodriguez's costume is very similar in tone and format to ongoing $260 million sexual harassment and assault lawsuit originally filed in June with LASC from Delshad for his client Oval actor Derek Dixon vs. Perry. At the same time, it's also undeniable that Rodriguez's 23-page Dec. 25 complaint is filled with potentially incriminating screenshots of text messages, remarks about oral sex and other suggestive conversations from an allegedly predatory Perry. There are also obvious obnoxious statements from the director: “You know, Mario, it's nice to know me and have me in your corner.”
Focusing on making Boo! and a series of subsequent meetings, such as a dinner in Beverly Hills on November 14, 2018 at Mastro's Steakhouse to discuss more potential roles for model Rodriguez, who had seen a cameo of sorts in John Cenathe complaint is also full of vivid and specific details. “Mr. Perry reached into Mr. Rodriguez's underwear and grabbed his penis,” according to the report from the alleged attack eight years ago. “Mr. Perry made sexual moans and said, 'Stay here, stay here,' as he pressed his body against Mr. Rodriguez and continued to grab his penis.”
At the conclusion of this alleged incident, the document alleges that Perry “stuffed $5,000 into Mr. Rodriguez's pocket” as the slightly intoxicated latter waited for an Uber to take him home from Perry's home. Perry's other alleged attempts to offer Rodriguez financial security and on-screen roles in what the plaintiff understands to be sex continued into 2024.
Claiming “post-traumatic stress disorder… psychological, emotional and economic trauma” as a result of Perry's alleged actions towards him, Rodriguez (who did play a “very handsome college student” in 2016) Boo!) and lawyer Delshad got Lionsgate involved in all this.
Lionsgate
Brian Bedder/Getty Images
Their arguments are disarmingly simple, although there is a strange misspelling in the studio's name. “Lions Gate should have been aware of Perry’s misconduct because many similar allegations had been made against Perry in the past,” the complaint filed on Christmas Day states. “If Lions Gate had not taken action and enforced its morality clauses and other safeguards, the sexual assault would not have occurred because Perry would not have had the power.”
Lionsgate, as it is actually written, did not respond this evening to Deadline's request for comment on the Dec. 25 lawsuit and their place in it.
Now, from the perspective of someone who had the courtesy to respond, Spiro may be hesitant in defending his client, but Quinn partner Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan of New York is not entirely out of place in his strong statement this Boxing Day. Rodriguez decided to take action on his claims after a friend referencing Sean “Diddy” Combs texted him on June 18 with an update on Dixon's case.
“Mr. Rodriguez recognized that Mr. Perry continued to use his power and influence to sexually abuse potential actors and, after listening to the concerns of others, decided it was time to tell his story, seek justice, and finally stop Mr. Perry,” the filings said this week. “When Perry learned Rodriguez was going to file this lawsuit, Perry reached out to Rodriguez again via text message, telling Rodriguez that Perry had done so much to help Rodriguez and that (sic) Perry felt betrayed by Rodriguez,” the document adds.
Interestingly, despite all the text exchanges shown in Rodriguez's documents, this possibly explosive message is not visible.
Now, regarding the criticism of Spiro Rodriguez through Delshad and the Dixon case, it's actually a little more nuanced. For example, the case didn't actually “fail,” as Spiro claimed in the New Yorker.
The case of Delshad v. Perry in favor of Dixon has not yet plummeted, but so far it has worked its way through the court system in an unconventional way. The case, filed in LASC in June, was removed from California state court and transferred to federal court in the Golden State earlier this year. Dixon then applied to have his case returned to LASC. On Dec. 12, a federal judge ruled that Dixon had not proven he resides outside the West and refused to return him to state court. The consequence of Judge John Walker's decision was that Dixon's case was transferred to federal court in Perry's home state of Georgia.
Sitting with Judge Sarah Geraghty in the Peach State over the last two weeks of this holiday season, there hasn't been much movement in Dixon's case. This means that once Lady Justice picks up the pace and suggests there will be no settlement, 2026 will likely see Tyler Perry witnessing costly sexual assault cases on both ends of the country that could get very, very messy indeed.
