Tyler Perry has taken fresh legal action in his ongoing court battle with actor Mario Rodriguez, who accused him of sexual assault. Perry alleges that Rodriguez is attempting to force him into a multimillion-dollar settlement by filing motions designed to damage his reputation, according to TMZ.
Perry Denies Deposition Refusal
The dispute follows Rodriguez's request that the court sanction Perry for allegedly refusing to attend a deposition. However, Perry's legal team denied the claim, insisting the filmmaker had already agreed to testify under oath. The billionaire director dismissed suggestions that he was unwilling to answer questions about his sexual orientation, arguing such issues have no relevance to the case.
Sanctions Sought Against Rodriguez
Perry further claimed that linking sexual orientation to the allegations relies on harmful stereotypes. His lawyers have asked the court to reject Rodriguez's motion and instead impose $7,300 in sanctions against the actor, accusing him of abusing the legal process. Rodriguez filed the lawsuit in December, alleging Perry subjected him to unwanted sexual advances between 2014 and 2019. Perry has denied all the allegations through his legal team.
