Cuba Gooding Jr. has been sued for sexual harassment and assault in two new lawsuits from former accusers

Cuba Gooding Jr. is facing renewed allegations of sexual abuse from two women who previously filed criminal charges against the actor.

Gooding, 55, was sued by Jasmine Abbay and Kelsey Harbert for sexual assault and battery in two separate lawsuits filed Wednesday in New York Supreme Court, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY.

Abbay and Harbert, who have both accused Gooding of sexual misconduct in previous encounters, claim the actor’s behavior was “malicious, deliberate (and) outrageous.” In addition to a jury trial, both women are seeking damages for lost wages and emotional distress, as well as punitive damages, liquidated damages and attorneys’ fees.

USA TODAY has reached out to Gooding’s representative for comment.

The women filed their claims under New York’s expiring Adult Survivors Act, which gives victims of sexual abuse a one-year window to file claims that would otherwise be barred by time limits. This window closes on November 23rd, the Thanksgiving holiday.

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the lawsuits.

Jasmine Abbay says Cuba Gooding Jr. “sexually assaulted and abused” her at a nightclub in 2018.

Abbay met Gooding in September 2018 while she was working as a cocktail waitress at LAVO restaurant and nightclub in New York City, the lawsuit says. Abbay was assigned to Gooding’s table after her colleague, who allegedly witnessed the actor’s “inappropriate behavior” years ago, asked Abbay to man his table.

While Abbay served drinks to Gooding, the “Jerry Maguire” star allegedly kissed Abbay and “forced his tongue into her mouth,” the filing says. Gooding was charged with forcible touching as a result of the interaction, which he pleaded guilty to as a misdemeanor in April 2022.

The guilty plea allowed Gooding to avoid prison time, fulfilling a conditional agreement that allowed Gooding to plead guilty to charges that prosecutors said were allegations made by at least 30 women, many of them in New York nightspots .

By staying out of trouble and completing six months of alcohol and behavioral counseling, Gooding was allowed to withdraw his guilty plea and plead guilty to a non-criminal harassment offense, clearing his criminal record and preventing further punishment.

Abbay now claims in her November 2023 lawsuit that she was “sexually assaulted and abused” by Gooding as a result of his violent touching. She also claims she suffered injuries including “psychological trauma, emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.”

Kelsey Harbert says Cuba Gooding Jr. “sexually assaulted and abused” her at a rooftop bar in 2019.

Harbert met Gooding at the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge in June 2019 after approaching the actor and his girlfriend on the venue’s roof, the lawsuit says. A few seconds after Harbert sat down next to Gooding’s girlfriend, Gooding allegedly placed his hand on Harbert’s thigh and then touched her left breast.

According to the complaint, Herbert grabbed Gooding’s hand to remove it from her breast. The actor, who was reportedly “very drunk” during the incident, then allegedly took Harbert’s hand, brought it to his mouth and attempted to kiss it.

Harbert filed a police report shortly after the encounter and on June 13, 2019, Gooding was arrested for forcible touching, the filing states. A few months later, he was charged in two additional cases as more women came forward to accuse him of abuse, including the case of Abbay’s forcible touching.

At a hearing in April 2022, Gooding admitted to subjecting Harbert to “non-consensual physical contact,” according to Harbert’s complaint.

Harbert now claims in her November 2023 lawsuit that she was “sexually assaulted and abused” by Gooding as a result of his violent touching. She also claims she suffered injuries including “psychological trauma, emotional distress, mental anguish, embarrassment and humiliation.”

Cuba Gooding Jr.’s other legal troubles, including the civil settlement of a rape case

In June 2023, Gooding settled a sexual assault lawsuit with a woman who claimed he raped her in a New York hotel a decade ago, according to court records. The actor had insisted through lawyers that his encounter with the woman was consensual after the two met at a nearby restaurant.

The Jane Doe plaintiff alleged that she met Gooding in the VIP lounge of a restaurant in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood in August 2013 and agreed to meet him with a friend at a nearby hotel bar. But when Jane Doe arrived at the hotel and before her friend arrived, she was allegedly encouraged to go to Gooding’s hotel room so the actor could change.

The woman said in her lawsuit that Gooding then raped her in his room. However, his lawyers insisted it was consensual sex and that she later bragged to others about having sex with a celebrity.

The lawsuit sought $6 million in damages, including $2 million in compensatory damages and $4 million in punitive damages for the “significant emotional distress” Jane Doe suffered after meeting Gooding. Attorney Gloria Allred, one of several who represented the woman, declined to comment at the time of the settlement.

If you are a victim of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE & online.rainn.org).

Cuba Gooding Jr.: Actor settles civil rape case, avoiding New York trial

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Contributors: Elise Brisco, Naledi Ushe, staff and news reports

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cuba Gooding Jr. Lawsuits: Actor Accused of Sexual Assault, Assault