(AllHipHop News) Bosses at media firm Viacom are fighting The Game’s request to hold them financially responsible for a sexual assault lawsuit involving a contestant on his dating reality show.
The “Dreams” hitmaker, real name Jayceon Taylor, lost the 2015 suit brought against him by Priscilla Rainey, who claimed she was assaulted while filming a scene in a Los Angeles bar for “She’s Got Game,” in which women competed for the MC’s affection.
He denied the accusations and is currently appealing November’s $7.1 million ruling, and earlier this year, The Game decided to take Viacom officials to court to cover the costs of the default judgment, and seek another $13 million in damages for putting him in the situation.
He alleges company chiefs, who own the VH1 network on which “She’s Got Game” aired, should never have allowed Rainey to appear on the show, as she has a long criminal history, which includes felony arrests for aggravated battery, and was even highlighted by a doctor working on the production as a possible troublemaker.
However, lawyers for Viacom are challenging the claims, and they filed a court motion in California calling for the dismissal of the rapper’s lawsuit.
According to papers obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, they insist The Game’s own behavior is to blame for the judge handing down the default judgment, after he failed to appear in court for the start of the trial.
He had sought a last-minute postponement, but his request was denied.
Viacom representatives also highlighted the terms of the contract The Game signed before agreeing to star on the series, which reportedly releases network officials from “any and all manner of liabilities, claims and demands of any kind… which arise out of or relate to the use of the footage in connection with the production”.
The Game has yet to respond to the filing.