On Tuesday, September 23, famed music producer Metro Boomin will begin his civil rape trial in Los Angeles after a legal mediation was deemed "unsuccessful" between both parties.
What is Metro Boomin being accused of?
Metro, born Leland Tyler Wayne, has been accused of rape and sexual battery stemming from an alleged 2016 encounter with plaintiff Vanessa LeMaistre. The woman alleges that while in an L.A. recording studio with Metro in or around September 2016, she began to openly mourn the death of her nine-month-old son, who passed away in February of that year, according to legal documents obtained by Complex. LeMaistre claims that Metro gave her a Xanax, which helped her cope with anxiety, and a shot of alcohol. After a brief discussion about their shared depression, the accuser fell asleep and claims that she woke up to the producer performing oral sex and raping her.
LeMaistre alleges that a few weeks after the encounter, she discovered that she was pregnant but terminated the pregnancy that November. The following year, the woman claimed to have been mocked on Metro's song "Rap Saved Me," which featured 21 Savage, Offset and Quavo. “She took a Xanny, then she fainted. I’m from the gutter, ain’t no changing. From the gutter, rap saved me. She drive me crazy, have my baby,” the lyrics read.
When did the alleged rape take place?
The alleged incident occurred in or around September 2016, just months after LeMaistre said she and Metro met and formed a friendship in Las Vegas that spring.
Who is accusing Metro of sexual assault?
LeMaistre is a Los Angeles-based self-help writer, motivational speaker and self-proclaimed shaman who has facilitated women's healing circles in the years after her son's death from a rare disease.
What happens if Metro is found liable?
If found liable in the civil trial, Metro will owe unspecified damages for the plaintiff's lost wages, mental pain and emotional distress, punitive and exemplary damages according to proof and attorney fees and costs.
What has Metro said about the lawsuit?
Metro, who released his new commercial mixtape A Futuristic Summa on August 1, has stayed relatively mum about the case, although one of his lawyers, Lawrence Hinkle II, called the accusations "false" and a "pure shakedown."
How is the defense preparing?
The producer's legal team has reportedly obtained two psychologists, Dr. Elizabeth Loftus and April D. Thames, to examine concerns regarding LeMaistre's memory and possible inconsistencies about the alleged rape in her testimony. Dr. Loftus will look into "psychological factors" including trauma, high-stress and memory distortion, while Dr. Thames has suggested that LeMaistre suffers from mental health issues, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder (BPD).
When will the trial begin?
The trial begins on Tuesday, September 23, at 9 a.m. at Roybal Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse.
How long will the trial last?
The length of the trial is dependent on witness testimony and jury deliberation among other court factors and can last anywhere from days to weeks.