Dr. Dre lawsuit: Former marriage counselor's restraining order against rapper terminated
A month after Dr. Dre's former marriage counselor sued him for harassment, the music producer has scored a legal victory.
Psychotherapist Dr. Charles Sophy, who worked with Dre and his ex-wife Nicole Young throughout their divorce process, alleged in a $10 million lawsuit filed Oct. 11 that the Grammy-winning rapper incited a "malicious" and "sustained" campaign of harassment, which included "threats of intimidation and violence," "homophobic rhetoric" and "late-night texts."
The lawsuit included a temporary restraining order that prohibited Dre from contacting Sophy.
During a hearing Tuesday, Judge Melanie Ochoa ruled that Sophy's request for a permanent restraining order against Dre was denied after the counselor's legal team failed to "sustain the applicable burden of proof" needed for the order's approval, according to court documents obtained by USA TODAY. The temporary restraining order was subsequently terminated.
Dr. Dre lawsuit:Music producer sued by former marriage counselor for harassment, homophobic threats
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Sophy's case was dismissed without prejudice, which means he retains the ability to refile his original claims in a new lawsuit.
Dre declined to comment on Tuesday's ruling, attorney Howard E. King said in an email to USA TODAY.
Young filed for divorce from Dre in 2020 after 24 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.
Dr. Dre's former marriage counselor claims producer sent threatening text messages
Fourteen months after Dre's divorce settlement with Young, Sophy claimed in his lawsuit that he began receiving harassing texts from the producer out of nowhere. According to a text screenshot cited by Billboard and Rolling Stone, Dre texted the doctor in February 2023, saying he was told something "disturbing" and that Sophy was "going to have to pay for that."
Also that month, the doctor alleged that fake FBI agents showed up at his gated community in an attempt to enter his home and "talk" to him but were stopped by a security guard, the outlets reported. The incident made Sophy "fearful for his life" and led him to wear a bulletproof vest for protection, according to the suit.
In another alleged text, Dre wrote, "You're going to have to give me a written apology. If not, I'm moving forward. I'm not playing, trust me," per Rolling Stone.
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In a statement at the time, King claimed Sophy only filed his suit after he failed to push Young into dropping a 2023 "confidential complaint" to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California for "dereliction of duties and incredible incompetence."
"That complaint seeks revocation of Dr. Sophy's license ..." King said. He added that Sophy was allegedly fired because the counselor encouraged one of the couple's children "to take sides against (Dre), even encouraging his son to go to the press with false allegations" to "force a financial settlement that he recommended."
Sophy also claimed some of Dre's alleged threats were based on his sexual orientation.