Jay Asher, author of the popular young adult novel, 13 Reasons Why, is filing a defamation lawsuit against the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Asher, who was accused of sexual harassment and misconduct in 2017, is stating that the original lawsuit against him claimed false accusations and ruined his professional reputation. Asher is currently seeking a fair trial against the SCBWI to make up for the personal and professional distress caused by the original lawsuit.
Asher was under investigation in 2017 for allegedly preying on women at SCBWI events and sexually harassing fellow writers. This anonymous claim originated from seven members of the SCBWI. The organization director has been the spokesperson on behalf of the allegations and was the first to receive a complaint against Asher via email from the victims.
The allegations and lawsuit made against Asher were taken seriously by the SCBWI organization and gained headlines when Asher denied the allegations but agreed to stop attending SCBWI conferences and meetings. Despite this agreement, Asher has been fighting for a new trial due to the false claims that he feels have been made against him. Asher is suing the entire SCBWI organization, claiming that the relationships he had with the women from the conferences were consensual and that his life has been ruined from the false misconduct testimonies. Asher also claims that he was wrongly accused and that the complaints made against him were never fully investigated.
Sexual harassment accusations should always be taken seriously. If you or someone you know has been sexually harrased, the legal team at The Gold Law Firm P.C. are here to support your claim and obtain the justice you deserve. To contact the Philadelphia sexual harassment lawyers, call us at 215-569-1999 or contact us online. Located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we serve clients in Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, Montgomery County, and throughout South Jersey.
