Former Anti-Flag vocalist Justin Sane (aka Justin Geever) and his ex-bandmates within the activist punk rock outfit are the goal of a brand new lawsuit filed by Kristina Sarhadi. This previous July, Anti-Flag known as it quits within the wake of a then nameless allegation of sexual assault put forth on a podcast by Sarhadi. Whereas that preliminary recounting of the incident didn’t point out Sane or the band by identify by identify, it didn’t take lengthy for these aware of the group to place two and two collectively.

Following that allegation and the band’s subsequent dissolution, Anti-Flag‘s remaining lineup and Sane issued dueling statements. Whereas the band condemned the habits allegedly dedicated by Sane, they went on to say that that they had by no means witnessed it firsthand. Of their assertion, they provided partly:

“Whereas we imagine that is extraordinarily critical, within the final 30 years we’ve got by no means seen Justin be violent or aggressive towards girls. This expertise has shaken us to our core.”

Sane in the meantime would deny the allegations made in opposition to him, saying partly:

“Just lately, there have been claims of sexual assault made in opposition to me and I can inform you that these tales are categorically false. I’ve by no means engaged in a sexual relationship that was not consensual, nor have I ever been approached by a girl after a sexual encounter and been advised I had in any means acted with out her consent or violated her in any means.”

Sarhadi‘s preliminary allegations nonetheless proved to be the tip of the iceberg, with over a dozen girls later coming forth with additional disturbing allegations of their very own in opposition to Sane, together with claims of sexual assault, statutory rape, grooming and extra courting way back to the Nineteen Nineties.

In gentle of that story, which was revealed by Rolling Stone, the now former members of the band’s remaining lineup—sans Sane—would go on to publicly condemn Sane, whereas stating that they stood with the ladies who got here ahead.

Now Rolling Stone report that Sarhadi filed go well with at this time, November twenty second, in a New York court docket. Sane is called because the defendant in that go well with, as is the band’s distribution firm, Hardwork Distribution, of which the the band’s remaining lineup are registered members.

Along with searching for unspecified damages for the allegations of sexual assault she beforehand leveled publicly in opposition to Sane, Sarhadi additionally opted to take motion in opposition to the band’s distribution firm, stating that “they need to have identified” about Sane‘s alleged actions and “had an obligation of cheap care to enact insurance policies and procedures to guard followers.”

This lawsuit was filed underneath New York’s Grownup Survivors Act, which has supplied a short lived one-year window for victims of alleged sexual misconduct and abuse to waive the statute of limitations on civil lawsuits being filed in opposition to their alleged abusers.

Sarhadi mentioned in an announcement:

“Justin Geever used his platform as a celebrated, self-proclaimed ‘punk rock star’ to groom and lure susceptible ladies into feeling secure in his presence. Whereas he sang about defending girls and standing as much as abusers, it seems he was hiding an habit to energy and management, harming numerous girls who’ve been unable to talk up prior to now. At present I hope to encourage his survivors, and survivors of different predators within the music trade, to really feel hope once more.”