A Los Angeles judge dismissed the remaining claims in a sexual battery lawsuit against Vin Diesel filed by his former assistant Asta Jonasson. The ruling, issued on November 20, 2025, hinged on the fact that the alleged 2010 incident occurred in Georgia, outside the reach of California law. Jonasson's team plans to appeal the decision.
Court Ruling
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel M. Crowley granted summary judgment on Wednesday, dismissing the six remaining claims in Asta Jonasson's lawsuit against Vin Diesel. The decision focused on jurisdictional issues rather than the merits of the allegations. 'It is undisputed that the alleged sexual assault took place in Atlanta, Georgia,' the judge wrote in his 13-page ruling. He ruled that California's Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, which revived certain older sexual assault cases, does not apply extraterritorially to events outside the state.
Background of the Allegations
Jonasson, who worked as Diesel's assistant for nine days in 2010, filed the suit in December 2023. She alleged that during the filming of 'Fast Five' in Atlanta, Diesel assaulted her in his suite at the St. Regis Hotel after a night of clubbing. According to the complaint, Diesel pinned her against a wall, attempted to remove her underwear, and forced her to touch him while she resisted and said no. Hours later, Diesel's sister, Samantha Vincent, fired Jonasson by phone.
The suit included 10 claims, four of which were previously dismissed in June 2025 due to statute of limitations under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act. The remaining claims relied on the 2022 Sexual Abuse and Cover Up Accountability Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, which extended deadlines for cases dating back to 2009.
Reactions and Next Steps
Jonasson's attorney, Matthew Hale, emphasized that the ruling avoided addressing the truth of the allegations. 'The Court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Asta Jonasson’s allegations,' Hale told Deadline. 'The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.'
Diesel's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, welcomed the outcome. 'We are grateful that the court put an end to this meritless lawsuit,' he said. Freedman had previously denied the claims outright: 'Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety.' The case was filed against Diesel and his California-based company, One Race Productions, where Jonasson was hired in Los Angeles.