Nick Carter’s legal battle with Shannon Ruth, who accused the Backstreet Boys star of raping her in 2001, will continue after a judge in Nevada denied Ruth’s appeal.
The Nevada Supreme Court ruling allows Carter’s counterclaim, filed in 2023, to move forward, stating that Ruth failed to meet the necessary legal requirements to block the suit.
Ruth originally sued Carter in 2022, claiming that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17 years old, after a concert in Tacoma.
We're now on WhatsApp. Click here to join.
In response, Carter filed a counterclaim accusing Ruth and another woman, Melissa Schuman, of conspiring to damage his reputation using the #MeToo movement to gain attention and potentially extort money from him.
READ ALSO: Manson Agrees to Pay $327K in Legal Fees After Dropping Lawsuit Against Wood
Carter’s legal team argues that the allegations are baseless, claiming it would have been impossible for Ruth to have been assaulted on a tour bus as she described.
His attorneys provided evidence suggesting that Ruth could not have been alone with Carter, citing witness accounts and logistical inconsistencies with her version of events.
They also pointed to contradictions in her recollection of key details, including the events leading up to the alleged assault.
In addition to the counterclaim against Ruth, Carter is also suing Schuman for defamation, claiming she similarly fabricated assault accusations to harm his career.
Carter’s legal team has requested summary judgment on Ruth’s lawsuit, asserting that there is insufficient evidence for her claims to stand in court.
READ ALSO: The Mysterious Death of Rebecca Zahau: Suicide or Murder?
Ruth’s lawsuit accuses Carter of sexual battery, as well as emotional distress. Carter continues to deny all allegations, and his legal team has vowed to fight the claims vigorously.
The Nevada Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant step forward in the ongoing legal proceedings, with Carter now given the opportunity to pursue his defamation claims.
