A California judge has vacated a $6.5 million default judgment against Jermaine Jackson, the older brother of Michael Jackson, in a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape. The ruling, issued in Los Angeles Superior Court, found that the plaintiff failed to properly identify and serve Jackson using his legal name.
Lawsuit and Allegations
The lawsuit was filed in December 2023 by Rita Butler Barrett, who alleged that Jermaine Jackson violently raped her at her home in Encino, California, in the spring of 1988. According to the complaint, Jackson arrived unannounced at Barrett's residence and assaulted her for several minutes before leaving. The case has been ongoing, with Barrett seeking damages for the alleged assault.
Service of Process and Default Judgment
Barrett and her legal team attempted to locate Jackson to serve him with the lawsuit, including publishing legal notices in the Los Angeles Times in August and September 2025. After receiving no response, Barrett sought a default judgment, which was granted in May 2025, awarding her $6.5 million in damages. The judgment was entered without Jackson having appeared in court.
Jackson's Challenge
Jackson later challenged the default judgment, arguing that the lawsuit and legal notices were filed under the name "Jermaine Jackson," even though he legally changed his name in 2013 to "Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun." He also contended that publishing notices in Los Angeles was insufficient because he was living overseas at the time. In court documents obtained by TMZ, Jackson's legal team argued that the service was defective and violated due process.
Court Ruling
The judge agreed with Jackson's arguments, ruling that the failure to use his legal name, combined with the decision to publish notices in Los Angeles despite indications that he was residing abroad, rendered the service invalid. "The failure to use Jacksun's true legal name is fatal, compounded by plaintiff's decision to publish in Los Angeles, while Jacksun was apparently living overseas," the judge ruled. The court added that although locating defendants living abroad can be challenging, publishing notices in Los Angeles under an incorrect legal name left no basis to uphold the default judgment.
Impact and Next Steps
The judge subsequently voided the $6.5 million judgment and ordered Jackson to respond to the civil complaint within 10 days. The allegations against Jackson remain part of an ongoing civil case, and he has not been found liable for the claims. Barrett's legal team may seek alternative methods to serve Jackson, and the case will proceed as the court addresses the underlying allegations.
