Former Anti-Flag Frontman Ordered to Pay Nearly $2 Million in Damages in Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Justin Sane,the former frontman of the punk band Anti-Flag,has been ordered to pay approximately $2 million in damages to a woman who accused him of rape in 2010. The ruling comes after the woman, Kristina Sarhadi, filed a lawsuit against Sane, whose legal name is Justin Cathal Geever, in 2023. Sane failed to respond to the court complaint, leading to a default judgment granted by Judge Brenda K. Sannes.
Judge Sannes issued her decision on Tuesday, July 22, awarding Sarhadi $1,170,800 for claims of assault, battery, and sexual battery. An additional $750,000 was awarded as punitive damages.The judge did, however, deny Sarhadi’s motion for default judgment concerning a claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress. Pitchfork has reached out to Sane and Sarhadi’s legal representatives for comment.
The lawsuit was initially filed in a New York state court under the state’s Adult Survivors Act. The case was subsequently moved to federal court at the start of 2024. In her complaint, Sarhadi alleged that Sane assaulted her at a motel when she was 21 years old, detailing accusations of strangulation, forced oral sex, and rape.
Sarhadi’s legal action followed the abrupt disbandment of Anti-Flag. The band’s former members later stated that allegations of sexual assault played a role in the group’s dissolution. While Justin Sane has denied the sexual assault allegations,multiple women,including sarhadi,have come forward to Rolling Stone detailing alleged predatory and abusive behaviour by Sane.
For those affected by sexual assault, support is available through:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
https://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
