In a recent development, Russell Simmons, the renowned music mogul, has been slapped with a lawsuit for sexual harassment and battery by a former executive at Def Jam Recordings. The plaintiff, known as Jane Doe in the complaint filed in a New York federal court, has accused Simmons of raping her at his New York apartment over 25 years ago.

According to the complaint, Jane Doe, who was a senior music executive and video producer at the label, alleges that her career was derailed due to Simmons' persistent harassment throughout the 1990s. It is alleged that Simmons invited her to his apartment under the pretext of approving a new video but then started engaging in what appeared to be a playful wrestling match. However, the situation allegedly turned aggressive, with Simmons pinning her down on a bed and refusing to heed her repeated requests to stop. The complaint states that Simmons proceeded to rape her.

Following the traumatic incident, Jane Doe reportedly struggled to perform her executive duties due to frequent panic attacks, depression, and anxiety. Ultimately, she resigned from her position in 1997 and went on to work as an executive producer for film and commercial production companies.

The lawsuit also claims that Simmons persistently harassed the accuser at Def Jam's offices, with instances of him invading her personal space, making sexual innuendos, and rubbing the front of his pants. It is alleged that the harassment became so pervasive that a senior executive had to intervene and ask Simmons to leave the accuser's office. The complaint further states that Simmons would follow Jane Doe to the door or block her path to prevent her from leaving.

The lawsuit has been brought under New York's gender motivated violence law, with claims for battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and a violation of the law. It was filed under the state's Adult Survivors Act, which allows for sexual misconduct claims to be brought within a year, irrespective of the statute of limitations. It remains uncertain if the lawsuit can proceed under this Act since the filing window closed in November.

This case follows similar accusations made by Drew Dixon, a former executive at Arista Records and Def Jam, who accused Simmons of raping her in 1995. Dixon also accused Antonio "L.A." Reid of harassment. Last year, she filed a lawsuit against Reid for sexual assault and alleged retaliation for rebuffing his advances. Although Simmons was not named in Dixon's complaint, her lawyers have recently requested all relevant documents and electronic communications related to her allegations against him.

In 1999, Simmons sold his stake in Def Jam for a reported $100 million. The lawsuit against Simmons is part of a broader trend in which plaintiffs, who would typically have been prevented from suing due to the statute of limitations, have utilized New York's Adult Survivors Act to bring forth claims against high-profile figures in the entertainment industry. Approximately 2,700 complaints have been filed using this law, including against notable personalities like Sean "Diddy" Combs, Jimmy Iovine, ex-Grammy CEO Neil Portnow, Cuba Gooding Jr., and Jamie Foxx.

Russell Simmons has not yet issued a public statement in response to the lawsuit.