Vin Diesel lawsuit dismissed after Los Angeles judge ruled that claims brought by former assistant Asta Jonasson could not proceed under California law because the alleged incident took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The ruling was issued after two years of legal back and forth surrounding accusations made during the filming period of Fast Five in 2010.
The American actor, 58, had consistently denied the allegations. Jonasson claimed she was assaulted in a suite at the St. Regis hotel in Atlanta while working as an assistant on the production. She also alleged she was fired shortly after the incident. Her legal team argued that the case should be handled in California because both parties were California residents and she was hired through a California company.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Crowley disagreed. In his summary judgment, he noted that the location of the alleged incident mattered more than the residency of both parties. The ruling stated that California statutes do not apply outside the state unless the law clearly states otherwise. Because the claim relied on a California statute and the alleged conduct happened in Georgia, the court ruled that the case could not move forward in California.
Jonasson’s attorney, Matthew Hale, told Deadline that the decision did not address whether the assault happened or not. He described the outcome as a legal technicality and stated that his client intends to appeal the ruling.
Diesel’s attorney, Marty Freedman, issued a statement expressing relief that the case had been dismissed. He previously described the lawsuit as meritless, saying the actor categorically denied the allegations and that evidence existed that disputed Jonasson’s account. Freedman had also questioned the credibility of the claims because Jonasson worked briefly on the production.
The claims detailed in court filings described a scene in which Diesel was allegedly in his suite entertaining guests before asking Jonasson to escort him discreetly. She alleged that he groped her, kissed her, attempted to undress her, and forced her to touch him. She also claimed he masturbated while pressing against her. Jonasson said she closed her eyes to disconnect from the situation and later received a call from Diesel’s sister and One Race Films executive Samantha Vincent informing her that her services were no longer needed.
Jonasson’s team maintains that the issue deserves to be heard in court and will continue legal action outside California. Diesel’s team has maintained that the allegations are false and that the legal ruling supports their stance.
