Smokey Robinson accused of sexual assault by four women

Four anonymous housekeepers are suing Motown fable Smokey Robinson for $50 cardinal (£37 million), accusing him of intersexual assault.

A ailment filed successful Los Angeles superior tribunal accuses the 85-year-old of intersexual battery, mendacious imprisonment, negligence and sex violence, successful summation to a fig of labour violations related to wages, breaks, repast times and overtime pay.

The suit besides names Robinson's wife, Frances Robinson, claiming she contributed to a hostile enactment environment, and utilized "ethnically pejorative words and language".

Representatives for the Robinsons did not instantly respond to requests for comment, and the accusations could not beryllium independently verified.

Robinson was Motown's archetypal hitmaker, penning fig 1 hits similar Mary Wells' My Guy and the Temptations' My Girl.

Born William Robinson Jr successful Michigan, helium was some a endowment scout for the grounds statement and 1 of its astir salient signaling artists, known for songs similar Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown.

He has spots successful some the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame, and claims to person credits connected much than 4,000 songs.

Robinson's estimation and stature was an intimidating origin for his accusers, who were made to consciousness "powerless", their lawyer said astatine a property league successful Los Angeles.

"They're Hispanic women who were employed by the Robinsons earning beneath minimum wage," said John Harris.

"As low-wage women successful susceptible positions, they lacked the resources and options indispensable to support themselves from intersexual assaults."

The women are suing nether the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4, owed to the intersexual misconduct allegations, including rape, being levelled against the musician.

Three are erstwhile housekeepers and 1 was the singer's idiosyncratic assistant, navigator and hairdresser, according to tribunal documents.

In the lawsuit, each 4 women assertion that Robinson would summon them to assorted areas of his properties successful Chatsworth, Bell Canyon and Las Vegas, astatine times erstwhile his woman was away.

Sometimes emerging bare from a shower, helium forced them to person assorted types of enactment implicit a fig of years, starting successful 2006, the suit alleges.

Jane Does 1, 3 and 4 each allege Robinson sexually assaulted them successful the "blue bedroom" of his Chatsworth residence, claiming helium would laic down a towel to support the furniture sheets anterior to the assaults.

Jane Doe 2's allegations authorities that Robinson raped her successful the laundry country and store of his Chatsworth residence, wherever closed-circuit cameras were incapable to see.

The women assertion that during the alleged assaults, Robinson utilized carnal barriers and threats of unit to forestall them from fleeing.

The suit besides includes respective allegations of workplace violations.

All 4 women accidental they worked 10 hours a day, for six days a week without being paid minimum wage oregon overtime. They besides assertion to person worked holidays without receiving a vacation rate.

According to their lawsuit, the employees each discontinue due to the fact that of the alleged intersexual misconduct and hostile enactment environment.

The BBC has contacted Robinson's representatives for a effect to the lawsuit.

No constabulary reports oregon transgression charges person been filed against the musician.

A spokesperson for Los Angeles County District Attorney said the women's claims were not nether reappraisal due to the fact that instrumentality enforcement had not presented a case.

Los Angeles constabulary said they had nary connection connected the matter.