Tiger Woods’ former partner Erica Herman has accused him of sexual assault. What do we know?
The legal battle between Tiger Woods and his former partner, Erica Herman, has taken on a completely different complexion, with reports of sexual assault.
Representatives for former world No. 1 golfer, Tiger Woods, will now have to contend with an increasingly complex legal situation, after his former partner revealed new details in attempt to bring an end to a Nondisclosure Agreement which she previously signed.
What do we know about Tiger Woods vs Erica Herman
Having made a new court filing in which she provides her perspective on how her separation from Tiger Woods took place, Erica Herman has now indicated that she is seeking both financial compensation and release from a Nondisclosure Agreement (NDA) that she signed. Shockingly, Herman has also stated in the filing that Woods sexually assaulted her. To be clear the aforementioned NDA prohibits her from speaking about the details of her relationship. Woods’ attorneys have thus far attempted to close the matter through private arbitration, citing Herman’s agreement with such an option in the form of the aforementioned signed NDA. Herman, however, has now contested that Woods’ motion to keep the matter private be denied.
In her filing, Herman has stated that Woods “decided to pursue a sexual relationship with his employee, then - according to him - forced her to sign an NDA about it or else be fired from her job. And, when he became disgruntled with their sexual relationship, he tricked her into leaving her home, locked her out, took her cash, pets, and personal possessions, and tried to strong-arm her into signing a different NDA.” Additionally, Herman has also claimed that during the course of their six-year relationship, Woods “placed increasing pressure” on Herman to leave her restaurant job and “devote herself full-time to their relationship and caring for him and his children.”
Why does Erica Herman believe Tiger Woods used a “scheme”
As we now know, Woods allegedly brought their relationship to an end in October of last year. For her part, Herman has referred to the separation as a “scheme” which was enacted by Woods. According to her claims, Herman alleges that Woods asked her to pack a bag for a short trip to the Bahamas. As per her statements, however, she was surprised to arrive at the airport to find Woods who then instructed her to speak with his lawyer, before boarding the plane without her. in what Herman describes as a “scheme.”
“Then, Mr. Woods’s California lawyer, out of the blue, told her that she was not going anywhere, would never see Mr. Woods again, had been locked out of the house, and could not return,” Herman’s court filing states. “She would not even be able to see the children or her pets again.”
Tiger Woods’ lawyers have a different version
In March, Woods’ attorneys responded to Herman’s claims in a motion in which they sought to force arbitration. “After Mr. Woods recently terminated the relationship, Ms. Herman was advised that she was no longer welcome in the Residence.” The motion came in direct response to a lawsuit which Herman filed against the Jupiter Island, Florida, homestead trust which Woods controls. In her suit, Herman sought $30 million in damages, claiming she had an “oral tenancy agreement” to remain in the home for up to five years after the separation. Further to that, Herman also claimed that the trust had misappropriated $40,000 in cash which belonged to her and made “scurrilous and defamatory allegations about how she obtained the money.”
Allegations of sexual assault have been brought against Tiger Woods
Amidst all the legal wrangling, the one thing that stands out above all is of course the separate suit which Herman filed just last month against Woods himself. Apparently seeking to free herself from the above-mentioned NDA, Herman has alleged that she suffered sexual assault and sexual harassment at the hands of Woods. If that is proven to be true, the NDA could in theory be voided under federal law, however, she has yet to disclose any further details regarding those two specific allegations. For his part, Woods has given no further comment on the situation as he continues to be sidelined indefinitely from the sport of golf, while recovering from an ankle operation which he underwent in April.