Brown Accused Of Rape

A Chicago-area woman has filed a $106 million lawsuit against James Brown claiming he raped her at gunpoint in South Carolina 17 years ago, causing her to be diagnosed with Graves’ disease.

Brown’s attorney, Debra Opri, called Jacque Hollander’s allegations “rag sheet fodder” and said the soul legend never raped the plaintiff. Opri added that a judge dismissed Hollander’s claims as frivolous in 2002.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, says Hollander was an aspiring songwriter working as a publicist for Brown in 1988 when the alleged attack occurred. Hollander claims that while riding in a van, Brown pulled over, picked up a shotgun and forced her to have sex with him.

The statute of limitations on the rape has run out but the case is still valid because Hollander wasn’t diagnosed with Graves’ disease until 2000.

According to the National Graves’ Disease Foundation, stress contributes to the onset of the autoimmune disorder, which is reportedly how Hollander’s doctor concluded the alleged attack is to blame. However, the actual cause of the disease is still a mystery.

Brown, 71, underwent surgery for prostate cancer December 15th and is expected to make a full recovery.