Kesha Shifts Focus, Drops Rape Case

She'll now focus on New York lawsuit, new album
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Aug 2, 2016 9:18 AM CDT
Kesha Shifts Focus, Drops Rape Case
Kesha is seen in Los Angeles in May.   (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Kesha has dismissed a California lawsuit alleging hit-making producer Dr. Luke sexually and emotionally abused her, but a similar case will remain in play in New York. Monday's dismissal of a Los Angeles case comes amid an effort by the singer to get new singles and an album released despite her high-profile fight with her former mentor. Her attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, says the dismissal was filed so she can focus her legal efforts in New York, where she has also sued the producer alleging he frequently ridiculed her for nearly a decade and at one point drugged and raped her. Dr. Luke, whose real name is Lukasz Gottwald, has denied Kesha's allegations and accused her of suing to try to obtain a better recording deal.

Petrocelli says Kesha has delivered 28 new songs to Dr. Luke's record label and Sony Music Entertainment and hopes new singles and albums will be released soon. "We have conveyed to Sony and the label Kesha's strong desire to release her next album and single as soon as possible," he adds. Kesha is appealing two rulings in New York that prevented her from breaking her contract with Dr. Luke's label, and that dismissed her claims of sexual and emotional abuse. Dr. Luke has sued the singer for defamation, and that case is still pending. "If Kesha is voluntarily dismissing her claims in the California case, it is because she has no chance of winning them," Dr. Luke's attorney says. "Kesha never should have brought her false and meritless claims against Dr. Luke in any court." (More Kesha stories.)

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