TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Tiger Woods' legal team is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, May 9, to defend him against a lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Erica Herman. The attorneys will argue that the case should be dismissed since Herman signed a nondisclosure agreement. The legal team will contend that any disputes between Woods and Herman should be settled in private through arbitration, as per the terms of the agreement.
The golfing legend is currently facing legal action by Herman, who has accused him of sexual harassment. Herman, who is 39 years old, has filed a separate lawsuit against the trust that owned Woods' $54 million Florida mansion, claiming illegal eviction and seeking $30 million in damages. Herman argues that the nondisclosure agreement she signed with Woods is not applicable in this case because a new federal law voids such contracts in cases related to sexual abuse or sexual harassment. Benjamin Hodas, the attorney representing Herman, alleges that Woods threatened to fire Herman if she did not sign the agreement, which he believes is a form of harassment, reports ABC News.
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'This is sexual harassment'
“A boss imposing different work conditions on his employee because of their sexual relationship is sexual harassment,” Hodas said. JB Murray, representing Woods, denies his client ever sexually assaulted or harassed Herman. The attorney described the allegations in court documents as “utterly meritless.” It is not clear whether Woods will be present during the court proceedings before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger. Murray had submitted on Monday, May 8, an email exchange dating August 2017, between Christopher Hubman, the chief financial officer of Tiger Woods Ventures, and Herman. The ex-girlfriend then raised concern over her relationship with Woods, including both romantic and professional bonds between them.
'My only concern is...'
“My only concern is if by chance TW does something that brings our relationship to an end, do I automatically (lose) my job? I don't have any problem with what's in the document because I wouldn't go public or use anything I know to hurt him or the kids but with my whole life in his hands now I would want to have some kind of control over my future in the business,” she wrote. Adding, "If something happened five-ten years down the road I don't want to be in my 40s, heartbroken and jobless."
