A judge in Los Angeles threw out most of the $500 million countersuit filed by Smokey Robinson and his wife against former employees — a year after the workers accused the couple of sexual assault and battery.
The six former employees had filed a lawsuit against Robinson and his wife, Frances, in May 2025, claiming the couple sexually assaulted and harassed them repeatedly in their Chatsworth home. They also alleged the couple violated state labor laws.
The Robinsons strongly denied the accusations and filed the countersuit, citing defamation among the accusations.
The judge eventually decided the Robinsons did not show reasonable probability of prevailing in their defamation claims.
“If you think that you run the possibility of being sued for millions of dollars from the defendant in a cross complaint, that will certainly have a chilling effect on you exercising your right from the first amendment,” John Harris, attorney for the former employees, said. “My clients can rest a little better at night because they were very worried about this humungous claim that was hanging over their heads.”
The Robinsons also accused the workers of theft and deleting evidence. The employees denied the claims, but those claims will move forward in the legal proceedings.
In response to Thursday’s ruling, the Robinsons’ attorney said the decision is “incorrect.”
“There is plenty of evidence of actual malice on the part of the attorneys. More fundamentally, our focus remains on showing that the Jane Does’ claims are untrue and fabricated. Even the Court, in its ruling, recognized the numerous inconsistences in their testimony,” Christopher Frost, the Robinsons’ attorney, said in a statement to NBC Los Angeles.
“Even though some of our claims were dismissed on a technicality today, it remains true that the Jane Does have a lot of trouble with their stories. You can expect our continued focus on getting to the bottom of those stories,” Frost said.
A possible trial on the sexual assault allegations against the Robinsons is tentatively scheduled for next year.
The former employees’ lawsuit against the couple seeks a minimum of $50 million in general damages, along with unspecified punitive damages.
Born and raised in Detroit, Robinson was in high school when he founded The Miracles vocal group and developed a lasting career bond and friendship with mentor Berry Gordy. The Miracles’ “Shop Around” became the first No. 1 hit on the R&B singles chart for the acclaimed Motown Records label. The group flourished over the next two decades with songs written by Robinson, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “More Love,” “Tears of a Clown,” which was co-written with Stevie Wonder, and “I Second That Emotion.”
Robinson soon became vice president of Motown Records, but also crafted hits for other greats of the Motown sound, including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway and Marvin Gaye.
Robinson embarked on a solo career that produced hits like “Just to See Her,” “Quiet Storm,” “Cruisin’,” and “Being With You.”
Robinson released a new album on April 25 titled, “What the World Needs Now.”