Thursday, October 10, 2024 -Music mogul, Dr. Dre is being sued for at least $10 million by a psychotherapist in Southern California over claims he subjected him to a “systematic and malicious” barrage of “unbearable harassment” that left him wearing a bulletproof vest and fearing for his life.
In a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County
Superior Court, Dr. Charles Sophy alleges Dre, born Andre Young, hired him in
2018 to mediate the breakdown of his decades-long marriage to his now
ex-wife, Nicole Young. Sophy says he worked “diligently, independently and
fairly” to help the couple resolve their disputes and ceased communication with
Dre when the pair reached a settlement in late 2021.
The doctor says that about 14 months later,
Dre started texting him out of the blue with allegations the doctor had somehow
acted improperly — allegations the doctor denies.
“Rather than treating the mediation
process as an opportunity for healing, Young decided to take his frustrations
about the mediation out on Dr. Sophy — frustrations that manifested themselves
in the form of a nearly year-long sustained campaign of late-night texts,
threats of intimidation and violence, and homophobic rhetoric,” the lawsuit
states.
In a statement, Dre’s lawyer Howard
King tells Rolling Stone that
Dre previously filed a “confidential complaint” against Sophy with the
Osteopathic Medical Board of California last year seeking “to get Dr. Sophy
punished for dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence.”
“That complaint seeks revocation of Dr.
Sophy’s license to provide mental health counseling to needy patients. In gross
violation of all applicable standards of care, Dr. Sophy inserted himself into
a contentious divorce while he simultaneously ‘treated’ not only Mr. and Mrs.
Young, but their children. He was terminated when it was revealed that he was
encouraging one of their children to take sides against Mr. Young, even
encouraging his son to go to the press with false allegations in order to force
a financial settlement that he recommended,” King claims in the statement. “Dr.
Sophy has consistently rebuffed Medical Board attempts to investigate these
claims, but has now filed this desperate suit while the noose of the Medical
Board is tightening.”
According to Sophy’s 22-page lawsuit signed
by his lawyer Christopher Frost and obtained by Rolling
Stone, Sophy says Dre sent him an “overtly
threatening” text around 10 p.m. on Feb. 16, 2023, in which he claimed someone
told him something “disturbing” and that Sophy was “going to have to pay for
that.” Sophy says he replied, “Excuse me,” and shortly after that, Dre
allegedly responded, “Yes you,” and, “You’re a piece of shit.”
Sophy says he “tried to remain calm” and
attempted to “defuse the situation.” He says he responded the next day with,
“Good morning I have no idea what you are referring to and would make myself
available to discuss anytime. Thank you.” He says Dre “doubled down” with a
follow-up message that read, “You fucked up!! Just so you know, I love being
underestimated.”
Sophy says Dre “falsely accused” him of
trying to turn an unidentified third party against him. He says Dre “wrongfully
accused” him of acting improperly during the divorce mediation.
“There is no truth behind these baseless
and far-fetched accusations,” the new lawsuit states. “Dr. Sophy tried to let
the threats go and not pursue them. Young however, would not let go.”
According to the complaint, Dre sent
another text on March 5, 2023, that read, “What happened Doc? I thought you
wanted to talk. Cat go your tongue? You’re going to have to give me a written
apology. If not, I’m moving forward. I’m not playing, trust me.”
Sophy claims that in June 2023, Dre
tried to force him to unlawfully disclose confidential information obtained
during a therapy session with a third party. Sophy says he refused and “again
tried to stay calm and hope that Young’s threats, harassment and intimidation
would stop.”
On Aug. 4, 2023, Dre sent another
“disturbing and chilling text message” in which he allegedly threatened, “Don’t
worry I haven’t forgotten about you,” the lawsuit states. Sophy claims the
“particularly sinister” text left him “more fearful for his life than ever
before.”
The doctor claims that in February 2023,
“immediately after the initial texts were sent,” he received a strange call
from a security guard at his gated community saying individuals claiming to be
FBI agents were “requesting to be led into Dr. Sophy’s residence to ‘talk’ to
him.”
The doctor says he believes the people were
impersonating agents to gain access to his residence and “send the unmistakable
message” that Sophy wasn’t safe even in “the sanctity of his home.”
“Dr. Sophy lives in constant fear. He wears
a bulletproof vest anytime he steps foot outside, is afraid to leave his home
and is constantly looking over his shoulder. The egregiousness of Young’s
persistent harassing behavior has compelled Dr. Sophy to seek redress and
protection,” the lawsuit states.
“Nobody should have to live in constant
fear. But Dr. Sophy does — ironically for no other reason than he tried to help
Young to resolve his own family’s conflict.”
The lawsuit includes claims for civil
harassment, threat of violence based on his sexual orientation, and a court
order prohibiting contact.
He’s seeking compensatory damages of
at least $10 million and punitive damages to be decided at trial.
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