Introduction to the Case
Bishop T.D. Jakes has elected to end his defamation lawsuit against the former Pennsylvania minister who accused him in a YouTube talk show last year of alleged attempted sexual assault in the 1980s.
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Background of the Lawsuit
Jakes’ legal team submitted a filing Thursday asking the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to grant their motion to dismiss the lawsuit “by consent of all parties.” Jakes, who founded Dallas megachurch The Potter’s House in 1996, initiated the decision to end the lawsuit, according to his lawyer Dustin Pusch.
“The Court has consistently ruled in Bishop Jakes’s favor throughout this matter, and with the established record in the case proving the utter falsity of these claims, there is nothing further to pursue,” Pusch said in a statement.
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“In the interest of judicial efficiency and closure for all involved, Bishop Jakes has chosen to dismiss the remaining claims and focus his attention on continuing the global ministry and community work that have defined his life for nearly five decades.”
The Accusations
Duane Youngblood, whom Jakes sued for defamation, did not respond to a phone request for comment. Paul A. Ellis Jr., a lawyer representing Youngblood, declined to comment.
Last fall, Youngblood alleged during appearances on the YouTube talk show Larry Reid Live that Jakes groomed and tried to sexually assault Youngblood when he was in his late teens.
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In October and November interviews titled “The Abused become the Abuser,” Youngblood alleged that he had been abused by multiple ministers when he was young and that abuse had led him to become an abuser himself.
Youngblood is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of sexual assault in 2008 and corruption of minors in 2014, according to the Pennsylvania sex offender registry.
The Lawsuit and Its Aftermath
In a letter dated Nov. 15, shortly after the second YouTube interview aired, Youngblood’s then-attorney, Tyrone Blackburn, asked Jakes for a financial settlement. Blackburn made an initial negotiable demand of $6 million “to resolve this matter quickly and privately,” according to a copy of the letter Jakes later submitted to the court.
On Nov. 24, Jakes was on stage speaking when he suffered a health incident that he described to The Today Show as a heart attack.
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The next day, Jakes’ lawyers sued Youngblood for defamation, alleging that the former minister was attempting to “extort him for millions of dollars.” The lawsuit said Youngblood’s allegations had contributed to Jakes’ health crisis.
The lawsuit remained in the pre-litigation stage for almost a year. This February, Youngblood’s brother, Richard Youngblood, alleged in an affidavit that he, too, had experienced unwanted sexual advances from Jakes.
In a February sworn affidavit, Jakes vehemently denied both brothers’ allegations. “The statements in these affidavits purport to describe situations where I harbored carnal desires for these men,” he said. “These statements are knowingly and flagrantly false.”
In June, Youngblood’s former attorney filed to withdraw from the case after Jakes’ attorneys accused him of making up some of the quotes in his filings.
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Sanctions Against Youngblood’s Attorney
In a June order, U.S. District Judge William Stickman IV said Blackburn’s conduct was “a clear ethical violation of the highest order” and ordered Blackburn to appear in court to defend himself from potential sanctions.
Blackburn admitted to the fabricated quotations and said he had used a new AI program to draft the briefs at issue.
Stickman sanctioned Blackburn earlier this month, ordering the attorney to pay a $5,000 fine to Jakes’ lawyers. The judge said Blackburn’s errors went beyond an “innocent mistake,” highlighting Blackburn’s response when Jakes’ counsel first pointed out the fabricated and misrepresented quotes.
“[T]he Court believes that monetary sanctions are necessary to deter Blackburn from future misconduct — especially due to his decision to double-down on his misuse of AI after it was brought to the attention of the court,” Stickman wrote in his decision.
Conclusion
Jakes founded The Potter’s House in 1996 and grew it to 30,000 members, according to the church’s website. In July, he transferred leadership of the church to his daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Jakes Roberts and Touré Roberts.
The case highlights the importance of verifying information and the potential consequences of spreading false allegations. It also raises questions about the use of AI in legal proceedings and the need for attorneys to ensure the accuracy of the information they present.
FAQs
Q: What was the nature of the lawsuit filed by Bishop T.D. Jakes?
A: The lawsuit was for defamation against Duane Youngblood, who had accused Jakes of attempted sexual assault in the 1980s.
Q: Why did Jakes decide to end the lawsuit?
A: Jakes’ legal team stated that the court had consistently ruled in Jakes’ favor, and with the established record proving the falsity of the claims, there was nothing further to pursue.
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