Kesha wants to revive Dr. Luke lawsuit in California

While singer Kesha’s lawsuit against Dr. Luke – claiming he drugged and raped her and exerted suffocating control over her career – plays out in New York, her attorneys want to also revive it in California. 

The L.A. County Superior Court hearing had been put on hold while the legal battle between Kesha Rose Sebert and Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) continued in New York.

Dr. Luke, who signed her to his Kemosabe label (through Sony Music Entertainment) has rejected her accusations as “outright lies” and made because the Tik Tok singer wants to break her contract with him.

He is also suing her mother Pebe Sebert for breach of contract and defamation.

The producer’s attorneys are trying to have Kesha’s case thrown out. Already seven of her claims against Dr. Luke have been dismissed on April 6 in New York on technicalities, which Team Kesha says is unfair to the singer.

Rejected by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Shirley Werner Kornreich were claims of hate crimes and employment discrimination based on genre. She blocked Kesha’s claims of sexual assault and gender violence dating back to 2005 on the grounds they were too old, too weak or took place outside the Manhattan court’s jurisdiction.

“The (gender violence) claim should be dismissed because the jurisdiction and powers of the city are limited to its geographical borders and Kesha does not allege any violent acts that occurred in New York City,” Kornreich declared. 

She also ruled, "Every rape is not a gender-motivated hate crime."

Additionally, an attempt to place an injunction on Kesha’s exclusive record deal with Sony was knocked back.

As a result, Team Kesha wants to amend some of her complaints for the Californian hearing and gain another chance of winning the civil case. The next New York hearing is on July 15.

It was in California that Kesha originally sued Dr. Luke in October 2014 before both parties agreed to move it to New York where their record company Sony Music Entertainment has its headquarters. 

On February 19, Kesha broke down in the Manhattan Supreme Court when she was told she would not be released from her record contract with Sony Music Entertainment and having to continue to work with the producer.

Taylor Swift, Adele, Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson were among those who publically stood by her. 

Dr. Luke also filed his own breach of contract suit in New York, as this was where her record deal was signed.

Last weekend, the 29-year-old posted a picture of herself taken from behind, watching the sunset with her middle finger extended.

“I have been battling depression and an eating disorder for a while now. my career is in a strange place and it feels like I’m fighting an uphill fight some days. but I have decided to take my life back. my freedom. my happiness. my voice. my worth. I will not just f---ing be quiet and hide. today I will say f--- it and live,” she wrote. “today I’m making that choice. AND IM HAPPY AS A DAMN CLAM."

Recently, she performed an emotional version of Lady Gaga’s Til It Happens To You at an animal rights gala night.

For a year she refused to record new music, refusing to work with Dr. Luke again. However she cut a track True Colours with DJ/producer Zedd – another who publically stood by Kesha – for his new album. Both Dr. Luke and Sony gave permission for the new recording.