Anti-Flag Justin Sane Ordered to Pay $2 Million in Assault Lawsuit
anti-Flag’s Justin Sane Faces default Judgment in Sexual Assault Lawsuit
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Landmark Ruling Awards Over $1.9 Million in Damages
New York, NY – In a critically important legal development, Justin Sane, the former frontman of the influential punk band Anti-Flag, has been ordered to pay over $1.9 million in damages following a default judgment in a sexual assault lawsuit. The ruling, handed down by Judge Brenda K. Sannes on Tuesday, July 22, comes after Sane failed to respond to the complaint filed by Kristina Sarhadi in 2023.
The Lawsuit adn Default Judgment
Kristina Sarhadi filed her lawsuit against Justin Sane, whose legal name is Justin Cathal geever, under New York’s adult Survivors Act. Initially filed in a New York state court, the case was later moved to federal court at the beginning of 2024. Sarhadi’s complaint details harrowing allegations, including that sane strangled her, forced her to perform oral sex, and raped her at a motel when she was 21 years old.
Due to Sane’s lack of response to the legal proceedings, Judge Sannes granted a default judgment against him. This means the court found Sane liable for the claims made by Sarhadi without a trial on the merits of those claims.
Damages Awarded and Claims Addressed
Judge Sannes awarded Sarhadi a considerable sum of $1,170,800 in damages directly related to her claims of assault, battery, and sexual battery. In addition to these compensatory damages, Sarhadi was awarded a further $750,000 in punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for egregious conduct and deter similar behavior in the future.
However, the judge did deny Sarhadi’s motion for default judgment concerning a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Pitchfork has reached out to Justin Sane and attorneys representing Sarhadi for comment on the judgment.
The Shadow of Allegations and Anti-Flag’s Dissolution
Sarhadi’s lawsuit surfaced months after the abrupt breakup of Anti-Flag. The band’s former members eventually released statements explaining that allegations of sexual assault were a contributing factor to the group’s dissolution. While Justin Sane has previously denied committing sexual assault, numerous women, including Sarhadi, have come forward to share their experiences with Rolling Stone, detailing alleged predatory and abusive behavior by the former frontman.The legal proceedings and the resulting judgment cast a long shadow over the legacy of anti-Flag and highlight the importance of addressing allegations of sexual misconduct.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, support is available.you can reach out to:
RAINN National Sexual assault hotline:
Website: https://www.rainn.org
phone: 1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line:
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741