A California judge dismissed the sexual battery and retaliation lawsuit filed against Vin Diesel, the Fast & Furious star, on November 19, 2025, ruling on jurisdictional grounds. However, the accuser, Asta Jonasson, has announced plans to appeal the dismissal.

Background of the Lawsuit

Jonasson filed the lawsuit in 2023, alleging that Diesel sexually assaulted her in 2010 while she worked as his assistant during the production of Fast Five in Atlanta. According to the complaint, Diesel allegedly pulled Jonasson onto a bed at the St. Regis hotel, groped her breasts, and continued to assault her despite her verbal objections. The lawsuit further alleges that when she fled to the bathroom, Diesel pinned her against a wall and masturbated.

Jonasson also claims that she was fired shortly after the alleged incident by Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister and president of his production company, One Race Films. The lawsuit states:

“It was clear to her that she was being fired because she was no longer useful — Vin Diesel had used her to fulfill his sexual desires and she had resisted his sexual assaults. Ms. Jonasson felt like she was a piece of trash to be discarded.”

Vin Diesel’s Response

Diesel’s attorney, Bryan Freedman, forcefully denied all allegations. He stated:

“Let me be very clear: Vin Diesel categorically denies this claim in its entirety.”

In June 2025, Diesel had already secured a legal victory when four causes of action tied to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) were dismissed, including claims of discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and failure to prevent harassment.

Judge Dismisses Case on Jurisdictional Grounds

Later in 2025, Diesel’s legal team argued that the California court lacked jurisdiction over the case, which stemmed from alleged conduct in Georgia. Judge Daniel M. Crowley agreed, ruling that California law could not be applied extraterritorially:

“Plaintiff’s causes of action impermissibly apply California law to extraterritorial conduct in the State of Georgia. California authorities make clear that California law cannot be applied to any of Plaintiff’s claims.”

This reasoning led to the dismissal of the remaining six causes of action against Diesel.

Accuser Plans Appeal

Jonasson’s attorney, Matthew T. Hale, emphasized that the dismissal does not address the truth of the allegations:

“The Court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Jonasson’s allegations. The ruling was based on a legal technicality, with which we respectfully disagree. Ms. Jonasson intends to appeal.”

Court documents indicate that Jonasson worked for Diesel for approximately nine days, from September 2 to September 11, 2010.

As the legal battle continues, this case remains a high-profile example of ongoing workplace sexual assault claims against celebrities, highlighting jurisdictional challenges in cross-state allegations.