American actor Vin Diesel has been cleared of legal claims brought by his former assistant, Asta Jonasson, who accused him of sexual battery in connection with an alleged 2010 incident during the filming of Fast Five.
The 58-year-old Fast & Furious star had vehemently denied the allegations for the past two years, insisting there was no truth to Jonasson’s claims that he “forced himself on her” at the St. Regis hotel in Atlanta during production.
Jonasson’s attorney, Matthew Hale, told Deadline that the court’s decision did not address the validity of her allegations.
“The court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Asta Jonasson’s allegations,” Hale said. “The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.”
In his 13-page summary judgment, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Crowley ruled that the case could not proceed in California because the alleged incident occurred in Georgia. He noted that the claims were based on a California statute that cannot be applied outside the state unless lawmakers explicitly authorize such use.
“It is undisputed that the alleged sexual assault took place in Atlanta, Georgia,” Crowley wrote, adding that the lawsuit “fails as a matter of law” due to California’s prohibition on applying its statutes extraterritorially.
The ruling followed oral arguments heard earlier in November in downtown Los Angeles.
During those proceedings, Hale argued that California was still the appropriate venue because filming in Georgia was temporary, both parties were California residents, and Jonasson was hired by a California-based company to work for Diesel.
Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, welcomed the ruling.
“We are grateful that the court put an end to this meritless lawsuit,” he told Deadline. “We are pleased that this matter has been resolved entirely.”
Freedman has previously stated that Diesel “categorically denies this claim in its entirety,” describing Jonasson as a “purportedly nine-day employee” and asserting that “clear evidence” refuted her “outlandish allegations.”
In her 2023 filing, Jonasson alleged she was hired by One Race Films—Diesel’s production company—to assist him during filming in Georgia. She claimed she was in Diesel’s hotel suite while he was entertaining guests, and after being instructed to help him leave discreetly, he allegedly assaulted her.
Jonasson detailed several allegations involving unwanted touching, groping and forced contact, claiming she struggled to break free. She further alleged that after the incident, Diesel’s sister and One Race Films president, Samantha Vincent, called her hours later to inform her that her services were no longer needed.
Jonasson’s legal team has vowed to appeal the dismissal as they continue to pursue the case.
