Smokey Robinson appoints third lawyer in three months in $50m assault case

Smokey Robinson has appointed his third lawyer in three months in the US$50 million civil lawsuit in which six former workers accuse him of sexual assault at his Los Angeles-area home.

Anahita Sedaghatfar appeared in court for the singer on Sept. 15, according to court records obtained by Billboard. She represents both Robinson and his wife, Frances Robinson. She spoke to the outlet on Sept. 16.

The change caps a rapid turnover. Original counsel Christopher Frost stepped back in June. David Kenner replaced him, then filed a motion in August to withdraw from the case. He cited a breakdown in the attorney-client relationship.

Frances Robinson is also named in the suit. The filing accuses her of enabling her husband's alleged conduct. Sedaghatfar now acts for both husband and wife.

The lawsuit began in May 2025. Four unnamed women, who said they worked as housekeepers for Robinson, claimed he raped them during employment between 2007 and 2024. A fifth housekeeper and a male car mechanic later joined the case with further assault claims.

Robinson has denied the allegations. He has called them "vile, false allegations" and described the case as an attempt to extract money, in comments reported by Billboard. Within weeks of the first filing, he countersued his accusers, filing his own legal claims against them in return.

Those defamation counterclaims were later dismissed for insufficient evidence. He is appealing that ruling. The appeal concerns only his claims against the accusers. It does not decide the main assault allegations.

A judge ruled in favour of keeping the accusers unnamed for now after a hearing in September 2025. The order means the women continue to be identified in court papers as Jane Does while the case moves forward.

Two separate legal tracks are now running. The civil case seeks money damages and is scheduled to go to trial in October 2027. Separately, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is conducting a criminal investigation based on police reports filed by the women. No charges have been filed to date.

A criminal case and a civil case follow different rules. One can proceed without the other. For now, the civil lawsuit continues with new counsel in place.