Ricky Martin has hit back with a hefty $30 million (AUD $20,496,450 or £17,693,550) lawsuit against his nephew after he claimed that the singer sexually abused him.
The Latino singer filed the lawsuit against his nephew, Dennis Yadiel Sánchez, citing extortion and malicious persecution caused by the false sexual assault claims, as per The Rolling Stones.
The lawsuit obtained by the outlet, which was signed by Martin’s lawyer Dora L. Monserrate Peñagarícano reads: “Defendant Sánchez has threatened and extorted [Martin] that, unless he is economically compensated, he will continue with his campaign to assassinate his reputation and integrity, through false and malicious imputations.”
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Martin’s lawyer also claims that Sanchez consistently sent messages to the ‘Livin' La Vida Loca’ singer as recently as August 14, which he described as ‘meaningless and purposeless diatribes written by a clearly maladjusted individual’, as per Business Insider.
Martin is claiming that his nephew cost him $10 million (AUD $14,652,550 or £8,635,250) worth of damages and is seeking a further $20 million (AUD$29,311,980 or £17,270,500) as Sanchez tainted a ‘previously impeccable reputation earned through his long artistic and altruistic career’.
The lawsuit also points out how Sanchez claimed he feared for his safety as the singer was ‘prowling’ around his residence despite Martin living thousands of miles away in California.
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The singer-songwriter’s lawsuit comes just two months after Sanchez dropped the claims and the request for a temporary restraining order against Martin.
As Martin denied those allegations, he was set to battle it out with his relative in court, potentially facing 50 years behind bars.
But after the dropped claims, Martin and his lawyers issued a statement: “Just as we had anticipated, the temporary protection order was not extended by the Court.”
Martin and his team insisted that the claims were made by a ‘troubled individual’ and there was no truth behind the allegation.
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They said: “The request came from the accuser asking to dismiss the case. This was never anything more than a troubled individual making false allegations with absolutely nothing to substantiate them.
"We are glad that our client saw justice done and can now move forward with his life and his career."
Charisa Bossinakis