- Shannon Ruth, the woman who accused Nick Carter of raping her on a tour bus in 2001, has had his counterclaim dismissed by a Nevada judge
- Ruth claims that Carter raped her after a concert in Tacoma in 2001 when she was 17 years old
- Carter denied the allegations and countersued for defamation
Nick Carter’s counterclaim against plaintiff Shannon Ruth, who sued him in 2022 alleging he raped her on a tour bus in Tacoma in 2001, has been given permission by a judge to move forward.
On Tuesday, Nov. 26, Nevada Supreme Court Justice Nancy L. Allf denied Ruth’s SLAPP motion against Carter’s counterclaim because she “failed to meet her burden,” according to documents obtained by PEOPLE.
“Our resolution of this appeal is hampered by Ruth’s failure to accurately identify any of the statements that form the basis of Ruth’s anti-SLAPP claim. We therefore conclude that any statements upon which Carter’s counterclaims are based not specifically addressed in this order do not warrant reversal of the district court’s order.” , the submission states.
In February 2023, Carter filed a counterclaim against Ruth and Melissa Schuman, who had accused him of rape in April 2023, alleging that the two women took advantage of the #MeToo movement and used it to launch a five-year conspiracy to “defame and smear Carter and otherwise destroy his reputation in order to gain attention and fame and/or extort money from Carter,” according to the suit obtained by PEOPLE. (He was granted permission to file a defamation countersuit against Schuman in August 2023 and is now suing her for $2.5 million.)
When Ruth appealed, his legal team outlined their case to the court, arguing that it would have been “impossible” for Ruth to have been raped on a tour bus in Tacoma in 2001.
His legal team also previously requested a hearing and asked the court to grant him summary judgment on Ruth’s claims.
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In the original filing, Ruth sued him for “sexual assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.”
Ruth claims she was 17 when Backstreet Boy, then 21, sexually assaulted her, according to documents obtained by PEOPLE. A source close to the singer denied this incident.
However, in her counterclaim, Carter provides evidence that disputes Ruth’s claim with several witnesses, including the Backstreet Boy’s security, confirming that they “made a quick exit” after the concert where she was allegedly waiting in line for autographs. (His team claims that no such line existed.)
“It would be impossible for any fan to be alone with any member of the band on their tour bus,” the filing states.
Susan Riggs, a friend of the band and Carter at the time, previously testified that she “personally watched Carter walk out of the venue, get on his tour bus and immediately drive off,” while Ashley Large, a fan, went to the meet and greet. before the performance, but claims that there was no line for autographs after the performance.
Fans also confirmed that Carter was flown to the Four Seasons Hotel in Seattle immediately after the concert.
His lawyers had also previously argued that she could not remember several details of the incident in question including details of the drink called a “VIP drink” she was allegedly served, how long it had been since she got off the bus to the toilet where she claimed she was assaulted and as Carter told her to “orally steam” him.
In his motion for summary judgment, Carter asked the court to disregard her testimony. He has also repeatedly denied the allegations, according to his legal team.
“Based on a real and substantial evidentiary record, Carter did not rape Ruth and her story of a moving target does not create a genuine issue on which a reasonable jury would find in her favor,” the motion states.
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Attorneys for Ruth did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Singer-songwriter Carter has been accused of sexually assaulting three women since 2017, including Schuman and Ruth.
Carter was sued by a third accuser who claimed he assaulted her when she was 15 in August 2023.
According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, he allegedly sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions in 2003.
Carter’s attorney denied the allegations.
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