Credit: Barbara Hine/Future Image/Cover Images, Instagram
Luann de Lesseps’ ex-boyfriend Garth Wakeford was sued by a New York Times reporter for alleged false imprisonment and battery.
The Real Housewives of New York alum reportedly met Garth by way of a courting app in the summertime of 2020 earlier than she confirmed their relationship in November. Luann introduced their breakup lower than a 12 months later.
Per a grievance obtained by Page Six, Garth was sued for allegedly intoxicating Sarah Maslin Nir within the Hamptons earlier than raping her in 2001, when Garth was 31 and Sarah was 18. She filed the swimsuit proper earlier than the Adult Survivors Act expired.
Sarah mentioned she was visiting a music venue with buddies after her highschool commencement. Per the swimsuit, Garth was the venue’s bouncer, and he “allowed [Sarah and her friends] to enter the venue without showing identification,” although he knew they have been underage. He allegedly “instructed the bartender to serve Nir numerous drinks ‘on him.’”
Sarah mentioned she later accepted Garth’s supply to drive her dwelling after his shift ended as a result of she noticed him as a “safe” particular person. He allegedly drove her to an East Hampton seaside as a substitute whereas she was “extremely and visibly intoxicated.”
The now-reporter claimed she couldn’t “physically get out of the car or walk on her own … [so he] lifted Nir out of her seat in the car and walked her to a beach trail as she lost consciousness.”
When she regained consciousness, Sarah was mendacity on the bottom along with her underpants at her ankle as Garth “was on top of her, penetrating her with his penis,” per the swimsuit.
“She struggled to break free from Wakeford, repeating ‘no’ and ‘stop,’” continued the lawsuit. “But Wakeford pinned her to the ground and told her to ‘wait, I’m almost finished.’ Nir somehow managed to raise her knees and pushed Wakeford out of her body. As she did so, Wakeford ejaculated in her face, leaving her eyes red and burning.”
Sarah mentioned she noticed Garth a 12 months later and confronted him concerning the alleged rape, telling him she “wasn’t there” through the penetration. According to the swimsuit, Garth confessed, admitting he knew Sarah “wasn’t there,” and he claimed it was the worst factor he’d ever carried out to a different particular person.
Sarah mentioned she tried to file a report in 2017 at East Hampton Police Department, however the responding officer purportedly claimed to know Garth; Sarah was subsequently “terrified” she wouldn’t “be treated fairly.”
Per the lawsuit, Sarah finalized the report in 2019 after working by way of remedy, however the investigation didn’t result in any indictment.
Sarah mentioned she has “extreme emotional distress” and “lasting trauma.” According to the swimsuit, she struggles with “physical intimacy” and “forming relationships,” and she or he generally has “panic attacks” and “vomiting” earlier than and through intimacy.
“New York’s Adult Survivors Act (or ‘ASA’) was passed a little more than a year ago so that people who have been the victim of a sexual assault that occurred long ago, at a time when societal attitudes were far different, could have a real chance to finally seek and obtain justice,” mentioned her lawyer Robert Kaplan. “That’s exactly what the case that we filed for Ms. Maslin Nir last week is all about. We are so honored to be representing her.”
Garth’s rep informed the outlet, “These claims are meritless and without basis. Mr. Wakeford looks forward to establishing the facts around their consensual relationship in the course of this unfounded litigation, which is predicated on lies.”
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