Kesha Seeking Injunction Against Dr. Luke

The pop star’s civil suit against Dr. Luke (real name, Lukasz Gottwald), which was filed last October, claimed she faced nearly a decade of emotional and sexual abuse, including one instance where he allegedly drugged and raped her. Gottwald responded at the time with a countersuit that contended Kesha Rose Sebert’s claims were merely an extortion attempt to get out of a recording contract with his Kemosabe Records label.

According to court documents obtained by the Hollywood Reporter, Sebert’s attorney Mark Geragos urged the judge Sept. 18 to make a determination in the case.

“Until this Court rules on the declaratory judgment claim, Kesha is at an impasse,” he wrote in a memorandum. “She cannot work with music producers, publishers, or record labels to release new music. With no new music to perform, Kesha cannot tour. Off the radio and stage and out of the spotlight, Kesha cannot sell merchandise, receive sponsorships, or get media attention. Her brand value has fallen, and unless the Court issues this injunction, Kesha will suffer irreparable harm, plummeting her career past the point of no return.”

Geragos also submitted affidavits from former Universal Music Group Distribution CEO Jim Urie and Sebert herself in support of an injunction.

“No mainstream distribution company will invest the money necessary to distribute songs for an artist who has fallen from the public eye, as is happening to Kesha at this very moment,” he said. “Accordingly, if Kesha cannot immediately resume recording and having her music promoted, marketed, and distributed by a major label, her career is effectively over.”

Sebert’s affidavit repeats allegations of abuse made in the original suit along with new claims that Gottwald “took credit for songs he didn’t write, for a television show he didn’t actually produce. … I know I cannot work with Dr. Luke. I physically cannot. I don’t feel safe in any way.”

A representative for Gottwald told THR in a statement they are confident the suit will be denied because it is “without merit.” “Kesha continues to make the same false claims of abuse against Dr. Luke she testified never happened under penalty of perjury. As with all pleadings in this case, her affidavit is vague and unsubstantiated, with pivotal details such as dates fudged, and notably fails to address her unequivocal prior sworn testimony to the contrary,” the statement said.