A California judge has thrown out a sexual battery and retaliation lawsuit filed against Vin Diesel, ruling that the state has no jurisdiction over allegations that occurred in Georgia. Despite the dismissal, the legal battle is far from over, as the accuser’s team plans to challenge the decision.
The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by former assistant Asta Jonasson, accused the Fast & Furious star of sexually assaulting her in 2010 during the production of Fast Five in Atlanta.
Jonasson claimed she was working closely with the actor at the time, handling tasks for his production company, One Race, and accompanying him to public events.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Judge Daniel M. Crowley granted Diesel’s request to dismiss the California-based suit, ruling that state laws cannot be applied to alleged misconduct that occurred outside its borders. The decision cited the legal principle known as “presumption against extraterritoriality,” which limits the reach of California statutes beyond state lines.
Jonasson’s legal team argued the case had “sufficient” ties to California, but Crowley ruled that the laws cited—particularly those under California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act—do not extend to out-of-state incidents.
Her attorney, Matthew Hall, emphasized that the ruling was not a judgment on the facts. “The court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Asta Jonasson’s allegations,” Hall told Deadline. “The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.”
Jonasson originally accused Diesel of sexual battery, retaliation, negligent supervision, wrongful termination, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to her complaint, she was assaulted during filming and abruptly fired afterward.
Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, has firmly denied the allegations since the suit was filed, calling Jonasson a “purportedly 9-day employee” and stating that “there is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”
Wednesday’s decision follows an earlier June ruling in which the judge dismissed several harassment-related claims because Jonasson did not meet California’s required filing deadlines with the state’s Civil Rights Division.
With the new appeal planned, the long-running legal dispute now shifts to a higher court, where Jonasson’s team hopes to revive the claims on new legal grounds.
