A woman in Vancouver has filed a civil lawsuit against Paramount Pictures Corp. and punk musician Stephen Jones from The Sex Pistols. She claims that he sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager working as a movie extra more than 40 years ago.
A statement of claim filed in the B.C. Supreme Court by the plaintiff states that she was 14 years old and working on the movie “Ladies & Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains” when Jones gave her marijuana and then sexually assaulted her in his hotel room.
The court has prohibited the public disclosure of the woman’s name.
Jason Gratl, her lawyer, stated in an interview that he couldn't explain why the lawsuit was brought 44 years after the alleged events.
“I only wanted to say one thing and it’s that she kept a diary,” Gratl said.
The notice of claim filed on Wednesday states that Paramount failed to properly warn minors and their parents about the risks of working with Jones on the set, and did not impose contractual terms restricting his contact with young extras or use of illicit drugs.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
Paramount did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Jones could not be reached for comment.
Neither Paramount nor Jones have filed a statement of defence.
The lawsuit alleges that Paramount hired Jones, who was 24 at the time, for a role in the film because of his reputation as a “punk rocker” who consumed excessive amounts of drugs and alcohol, and engaged in sexual misconduct, including with underage girls.
“The defendant Paramount was banking on the defendant Jones’ reputation and history to market ‘The Fabulous Stains,”‘ the statement says, adding the company “also hired other well-known punk rock musicians as actors for the same purpose.”
The statement indicates that despite this knowledge, the company did not take steps to protect young workers.
The movie, about disaffected teens in a punk rock band, was released in 1982.
The legal action states that the woman is seeking damages, claiming the alleged assault “caused her to suffer psychological injury, including loss of self-esteem, loss of self-worth, injurious self-imaging and identity, and loss of trust in intimacy and potential partners.”
The lawsuit states that she was hired as one of the hundreds of extras playing fans for the all-girl feminist rock band. Jones had been hired to play the role of a “socially volatile punk rock guitar player in a fictitious all-male band, The Looters.”
It states that on April 13, 1980, the teen went to the Denman Inn, “a location under the direction and control” of Paramount, with the intention of inviting the movie’s lead actor, Diane Lane, to go roller skating.
When she entered the lobby, it says Jones approached her, told her he had Lane’s number in his hotel room and asked her to go with him to get it. Once they were inside his room, it says Jones gave her marijuana, and he then turned off the lights and closed the curtains.
The document states she knew that meant he was likely to make sexual advances, she told Jones she did not consent and was “only 14, 1-4.” It says despite this, he pulled her onto his bed, climbed on top of her then kissed and molested her.
The person who filed the lawsuit told defendant Jones 'no' multiple times, tried to move his hand away, and eventually managed to free herself and leave the room, according to the notice of claim.
The legal case states that she initially felt both repulsed and flattered by the unwelcome sexual attention from someone she thought was a famous rock star and movie star.
Because she was confused by what happened, the document indicates that she didn't tell her parents, and it wasn't until later in life that she began to feel sexually violated, ashamed, and angry about the alleged assault.
Related
- Overdose crisis: A generation of B.C. children are losing their parents
- B.C. crime news: Second man sentenced in 2021 New Westminster homicide | Man sentenced in string of North Vancouver break-and-enters
Don't miss the news you need to know — add and to your bookmarks and .
