Kesha claims her producer Dr Luke drugged and raped her
Singer in court battle with Dr Luke, who says she is trying to extort her way out of contract
Pop singer Kesha and music producer Dr Luke have unleashed duelling lawsuits trading accusations of abuse and extortion as the singer says she wants out of her record contract with the hit-making producer.
Kesha, 27, whose legal name is Kesha Sebert, accused Dr Luke in a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Tuesday of sexual, physical, verbal and emotional abuse.
The lawsuit accuses Dr Luke, whose legal name is Lukasz Gottwald, of forcing Kesha to "take drugs and alcohol in order to take advantage of her sexually while she was intoxicated".
The 41-year-old producer behind hits for singers such as Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus responded with his own lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court accusing Kesha and her mother, Pebe Sebert, of defamation and breach of contract.
The lawsuit accuses Kesha and her mother of orchestrating a campaign to publish "false and shocking accusations" against Dr Luke to extort him into letting the singer out of her contract.
"Kesha's lawsuit is nothing more than a continuation of her bad and offensive acts," Dr Luke's lawyer, Christine Lepera, said.
Kesha has been under contract to record for Dr Luke's music production company and record label since 2005.
Kesha's lawsuit accuses Dr Luke of drugging and raping the singer and threatening her career if she told anyone about it.
"This lawsuit is a wholehearted effort by Kesha to regain control of her music career and her personal freedom after suffering for 10 years as a victim of mental manipulation, emotional abuse and sexual assault at the hands of Dr Luke," said the singer's lawyer, Mark Geragos. He said Dr Luke's suit had "no basis in fact, the law or reality".
Kesha's lawsuit also names Dr Luke's companies as defendants. It demands unspecified damages and to void Kesha's current contracts with Dr Luke.
It alleges the producer's insults to Kesha's appearance caused her to develop bulimia. She finished a more than two-month treatment for the condition in March.
The lawsuit says physicians at the rehab clinic determined that Kesha continuing to work with Dr Luke would be "life threatening".
In addition to Kesha and her mother, Dr Luke's lawsuit names the singer's manager and management company. The lawsuit asks for a jury trial and unspecified damages.
