Court Dismisses Company Owned by Former Anti-Flag Members in Sexual Assault Lawsuit
A court has dismissed the company owned by former members of Anti-Flag from a sexual assault lawsuit involving the band’s frontman, Justin Sane.
Accusations Against Justin Sane
Accusations against the singer – real name Justin Geever – came to light in 2023, when Kristina Sarhadi, a New York holistic therapist and health coach, filed a lawsuit against him.
Suit Against Anti-Flag’s Business
Per MetalInjection, Sarhadi then filed a lawsuit against Anti-Flag’s business, Hardwork Distribution Inc., accusing the band of negligence as well as negligent infliction of emotional distress. The business is owned by band members Pat Thetic (Patrick Bollinger), Chris Head, and Chris No. 2 (Chris Barker).
Court’s Ruling
However, in December, New York Judge Brenda K. Sannes dismissed the lawsuit against Hardwork Distribution Inc., citing a lack of provable ties between Geever’s actions and the company itself.
Remaining Suit Against Justin Sane
The suit against Geever by Sarhadi remains, with filings alleging Geever had “used his platform as a celebrated, self-proclaimed ‘punk rock star’ to groom and lure vulnerable girls into feeling safe in his presence.”
Statement by Sarhadi
The suit continued: “While he sang about protecting women and standing up to abusers, it appears he was hiding an addiction to power and control, harming countless women who have been unable to speak up before now. Today I hope to encourage his survivors, and survivors of other predators in the music industry, to feel hope again.”
Previous Statements and Controversies
Geever did not respond to requests for comment at the time, but later shared a statement denying all accusations raised against him. News of the accusations coincided with the band announcing their sudden split in 2023, which came without any kind of explanation. They then deleted all of their social media accounts and their official website.
On that same day, an episode of the podcast Enough was released, in which a woman spoke about being raped by a singer in a political punk band. She did not name the band or singer, but many speculated at the time that she was referring to Geever. It was later confirmed that this woman was Sarhadi.
Conclusion
The dismissal of the lawsuit against Hardwork Distribution Inc. brings an end to the company’s involvement in the case, but the remaining suit against Geever continues. The allegations against the singer remain serious and troubling, and it is unclear how the case will proceed.
FAQs
Q: What is the nature of the lawsuit against Justin Sane?
A: The lawsuit accuses Sane of sexual assault and alleges that he used his platform to groom and lure vulnerable women into feeling safe in his presence.
Q: Who is Kristina Sarhadi?
A: Sarhadi is a New York holistic therapist and health coach who filed the lawsuit against Sane in 2023.
Q: What is the current status of the lawsuit against Justin Sane?
A: The lawsuit against Sane remains active, but the company owned by former members of Anti-Flag, Hardwork Distribution Inc., has been dismissed from the case.
Q: Has Justin Sane responded to the allegations?
A: Sane initially did not respond to requests for comment, but later shared a statement denying all accusations raised against him.