Cuba Gooding Jr. to pay over 0,000 to woman who accused him of groping at New York City bar.

Cuba Gooding Jr. has been ordered to pay over 0,000 in damages to Kelsey Harbert, a woman who accused him of groping her at a Manhattan bar in June 2019. This ruling comes following a lawsuit that Gooding failed to contest, leading Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Richard Latin to decide in Harbert’s favor.

The court’s judgment, finalized on Wednesday, states that Gooding is liable for a total of 9,750. This figure incorporates 0,000 designated as punitive damages. The legal proceedings resulted from an incident that took place at the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar, located at The Moxy Hotel in Times Square. Harbert brought her suit against Gooding for sexual battery and assault under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which she filed in November 2023.

Harbert expressed a sense of relief and validation regarding the court’s decision, noting that it provided her with renewed hope in the justice system after enduring a challenging six-year ordeal. She emphasized that the outcome was particularly gratifying in light of what she described as a disappointing plea deal reached in a related criminal case involving Gooding.

The actor, known for his role in “Jerry Maguire,” has not publicly commented on the recent ruling and had no legal representation for the lawsuit. The complaint is rooted in allegations stemming from a viral surveillance video that depicted Gooding reaching toward Harbert’s breast after placing his hand on her thigh. Following these events, he was criminally charged in 2019 for groping and kissing Harbert, among other accusations involving different women.

In 2022, a plea bargain allowed Gooding to plead guilty to one count of forcible touching for an unrelated incident and required him to issue an apology to his victims, including Harbert. He avoided incarceration and was ultimately allowed to reduce his misdemeanor plea to a lesser harassment violation after completing therapy.

The case against Gooding has garnered significant attention as he faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct from over a dozen women, which he has consistently denied. Notably, he settled a lawsuit with one accuser just before it was set to proceed to trial in June 2023.

One of Harbert’s attorneys, Margaret Gandy, who previously served as a federal prosecutor, highlighted that the punitive damages awarded by Justice Latin underscore the seriousness of Harbert’s testimony and signify a form of justice. The attorney underscored Harbert’s unwavering commitment to seeking accountability for the actions of Gooding, indicating that recent rulings may inspire other survivors to come forward against sexual misconduct.

The evolving legal landscape surrounding this case continues to shed light on broader issues of accountability for high-profile individuals accused of sexual offenses.