Judge Allows James Brown Sexual Harassment Suit To Move Forward

NY (Top40 Charts) - A California Superior Court judge has refused to throw out a sexual harassment case filed against soul legend James Brown by a former employee in May of 2000.

Lisa Ross Agbalaya, who was president of West Coast Operations of the New James Brown Enterprises from April 1993 to February 2000, alleged Brown boasted to his employees that he has "bull testicles," smoked marijuana in the office, and demanded sex from his female employees in the suit.

In one of many examples alleged in the suit, Agbalaya recalls a November 1999 incident in which she attended a dinner party with Brown shortly after he had surgery to treat his prostate cancer. At dinner, Agbalaya alleges Brown told her that the government gave him "bull testicles" so he could come "harder and stronger than ever."
Brown's lawyers attempted to get the case thrown out of court due to lack of jurisdiction (Brown and his company are based in South Carolina, Agbalaya was employed in California), but the judge wasn't having it.

Agbalaya is seeking $2 million for sexual harassment and wrongful termination. The trial is set to begin on Jan. 28, 2002.