Judge’s Ruling: Judge Paul A. Crotty has permitted three women who allege sexual abuse by Cuba Gooding Jr. to testify in a federal civil trial next week. The testimony is intended to support the claim of a woman, identified as Jane Doe, who accuses the actor of raping her in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013. The judge deemed the allegations by the three women as relevant to the case, as they share similarities with the claims at stake in the trial.
Similar Claims and Social Settings: The judge noted that the claims made by the three women and the plaintiff involve instances of sudden sexual assaults or attempted sexual assaults linked to Gooding. These incidents occurred in various social settings such as festivals, bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. The judge’s decision acknowledges the potential significance of these testimonies in establishing a pattern of behavior.
Exclusion of Fourth Woman’s Testimony: The judge disallowed the testimony of a fourth woman due to its similarity to the expected testimony of one of the three women. The judge considered it unnecessary and potentially biased to include testimony that could be needlessly repetitive. The trial is scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
