American actor Vin Diesel was sued on Thursday by a woman who claims to have worked as his assistant and suffered a sexual assault in 2010 during the filming of the movie 'Fast Five'.
In the document filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, plaintiff Asta Jonasson claims that the 'Fast & Furious' star groped her, forcibly kissed her and masturbated in front of her in a hotel room in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Jonasson continually struggled to free himself from his grip, while repeatedly saying no," but Vin Diesel ignored the woman's "non-consent," the document reads.
The lawsuit also describes that finding himself unable to escape the situation, Jonasson closed his eyes "attempting to dissociate himself wishing the assault would end."
The woman describes that the assault happened a little more than a week after she was hired by Diesel and his production company, One Race Productions, for the filming of the fifth film in the popular vehicle franchise, and that a day after the events she was fired for not reciprocating the interpreter's advances.
The woman also sued One Race Productions and the company's president and Diesel's sister, Samantha Vincent, who, according to the victim's account, was in charge of calling her to fire her.
"It felt like it was a piece of trash that needed to be discarded. She felt helpless, her self-esteem was demolished, and she questioned her own abilities and whether a successful career would require an exchange of her body for promotion," the lawsuit continues.
Jonasson filed the case under California's Sexual Abuse Accountability and Cover-up Act, active since January, which gives victims of sexual assault a three-year deadline to file lawsuits against their aggressors and accessory after the fact, even if the statute of limitations has expired.
In addition to the sexual assault allegation, the lawsuit also alleges gender discrimination, wrongful termination, retaliation, and negligent supervision.