Judge Moves Toward Keeping Lionsgate in Tyler Perry Sexual Assault Lawsuit

A Los Angeles judge is leaning toward keeping Lionsgate in a sexual assault lawsuit against Tyler Perry after an actor alleged that the studio learned of the filmmaker's alleged misconduct through an internal audit and failed to intervene.

In a tentative ruling issued Monday, October 19, 2026, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brock T. Hammond indicated that actor Mario Rodriguez had sufficiently addressed earlier deficiencies in his negligence claims against Lionsgate. The studio is seeking dismissal of the case, which also accuses Perry of sexual assault and battery.

Rodriguez, who appeared in Perry's 2016 film Boo! A Madea Halloween, alleges that the filmmaker used his influence in Hollywood to make unwanted sexual advances toward him. His lawsuit seeks to hold Lionsgate responsible for allegedly failing to address misconduct involving a producer associated with its films.

The latest complaint alleges that a 2013 audit alerted Lionsgate to accusations that Perry had used his position to engage in sexual misconduct involving aspiring actors over several years. Hammond cited that allegation in finding that Rodriguez may have adequately established the studio's prior knowledge of the alleged conduct.

Lionsgate disputes its responsibility, arguing that Rodriguez has failed to establish the legal relationship necessary to support negligence and negligent retention claims. Its attorneys also contend that the alleged misconduct occurred away from the film set and that the complaint fails to establish a foreseeable risk the studio had a duty to prevent.

Negligent retention generally involves claims that an employer or another legally responsible party kept someone in a position despite knowing that the person posed a foreseeable risk of harm. At this stage, the judge is evaluating whether Rodriguez's allegations are legally sufficient to proceed, rather than determining whether the alleged misconduct occurred.

Rodriguez filed his lawsuit on December 26, 2025, initially asserting one negligent retention claim against Lionsgate. He added a negligence claim in April 2026 and revised the complaint again on July 8 after the court identified shortcomings in his allegations concerning the studio's knowledge.

The litigation also prompted an earlier dispute over federal jurisdiction. Perry and Lionsgate moved the case to federal court in February, arguing that Lionsgate had been improperly named to prevent the lawsuit from being heard outside California state court.

On March 13, U.S. District Judge George H. Wu returned the case to Los Angeles Superior Court after finding that federal jurisdiction had not been established. The ruling allowed the state proceedings to continue without deciding whether Lionsgate could ultimately be held liable.

Hammond was scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday, October 20, before deciding whether to adopt his tentative ruling. A decision allowing the claims to proceed would keep Lionsgate in the case while Rodriguez pursues his allegations against Perry and the studio.