Smokey Robinson accused of abuse by former housekeepers

Four anonymous housekeepers continue Motown -legend Smokey Robinson for $ 50 million (£ 37 million) and accuse him of sexual violence.

A complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses the 85-year-old of sexual battery, false prison sentence, negligence and gender violence, in addition to a number of employment of wages, pauses, meal times and overtime.

The lawsuit also mentions Robinson’s wife, Frances Robinson, who claims that she has contributed to a hostile working environment and used “ethnically pejorative words and language”.

Representatives of the Robinsons did not immediately respond to requests for comments and the accusations could not be verified independently.

Robinson was Motown’s first hit maker and writes number one like Mary Wells ‘My Guy and the Temptations’ My Girl.

Born William Robinson JR in Michigan, he was both a talents Explorer for the record label and one of the most prominent recording artists, known for songs and songs of my tears, shopping around and tears of a clown.

He has places in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.

The reputation and form of Robinson was an intimidating factor for his accusers, who felt “powerless”, their lawyer said during a press conference in Los Angeles.

“They are Spanish women who were employed by the Robinsons who deserved under the minimum wage,” said John Harris.

“If women with low wages in vulnerable positions, they missed the means and options needed to protect themselves against sexual attacks.”

The women continue under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4, because of the accusations of sexual misconduct, including rape, leveled against the musician.

Three are former housekeepers and one was the personal assistant of the singer, cook and hairdresser, according to judicial documents.

In the court case, all four women claim that Robinson would call them to different parts of his property in Chatsworth, Bell Canyon and Las Vegas, at times when his wife was gone.

Sometimes rising naked from a shower, he forced them to have different types of sex for a number of years, starting in 2006, the court case claims.

Jane all claims 1, 3 and 4 that Robinson has sexually abused them in the “blue bedroom” of his Chatsworth house and claims that he would put down a towel to protect the sheets prior to the attacks.

The allegations of Jane Do 2 couple that Robinson has raped her in the laundry room and the garage of his Chatsworth Residence, where cameras with closed circuit could not see.

The women claim that during the alleged attacks, Robinson used physical barriers and threats to prevent them from fleeing.

The lawsuit also includes various allegations of violations in the workplace.

All four women say they worked 10 hours a day, six days a week without getting a minimum wage or overtime. They also claim that they worked on vacation without receiving a holiday rate.

According to their lawsuit, the employees all stop because of the alleged sexual misconduct and hostile working environment.

The BBC has contacted Robinson’s representatives on a response to the court case.

No police reports or criminal charges have been submitted against the musician.

A spokesperson for the public prosecutor in Los Angeles County said that the claims of the women were not assessed because law enforcement had not presented a case.

The police of Los Angeles said they had no explanation.