Bartender wins lawsuit against Cuba Gooding Jr. over claims the actor 'pinched' her butt at an NYC nightclub

 A bartender who accused Cuba Gooding Jr. of groping her buttocks has won a default judgment against the actor after he failed to respond to her lawsuit for more than a year. 

Natasha Ashworth claimed the 53-year-old 'pinched' her without consent at the Tao Downtown Nightclub in New York City. Ashworth initially filed the civil suit for assault, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress against the Oscar-winning actor in October 2019.

The New York City native apparently never hired a civil attorney and never responded to the court, prompting her to request the default judgment, which rules on the side of one party in court when the other hasn't responded to the court.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Alexander Tisch granted Ashworth's request on Wednesday for a default judgment against Gooding on the claims of assault and battery, Page Six reported.

Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans game at Barclays Center in New York in November 2019

Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Brooklyn Nets and New Orleans Pelicans game at Barclays Center in New York in November 2019

But the judge denied a default judgment on the claim of infliction of emotional distress citing redundancy.

Tisch said the case will be set for trial to determine damages.

Gooding's criminal attorney Mark Heller said 'the claim is baseless and the judgment is worthless.'

Ashworth said in court documents that Gooding asked her if she wanted to hear a joke that was sexual in nature and after she declined, he recited the joke anyway.

She said as her work shift was winding down around 4:20 a.m., he approached her and used 'his right hand reached to pinch [her] on her right buttocks.' 


Ashworth said she told the actor, 'Don't touch my butt' to which he responded, 'Aw, that's no fun ... and I didn't, I touched your back.'

After unsuccessful attempts to touch her again, a promoter at the club told him to leave the establishment, to which he 'pushed the promoter out of his way and approached a manager,' Ashworth said.

Ashworth said Gooding told her, 'You don’t have to worry, because I am never coming back here again.' 

Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Inter Miami CF Season Opening Party Hosted By David Grutman And Pharrell Williams at The Goodtime Hotel on April 16, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida

Cuba Gooding Jr. attends the Inter Miami CF Season Opening Party Hosted By David Grutman And Pharrell Williams at The Goodtime Hotel on April 16, 2021 in Miami Beach, Florida

Gooding, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by at least 30 women in recent years, has denied all of the accusations. 

The actor has been criminally charged on six misdemeanour counts of sexual abuse and forcible touching stemming from the allegations of three accusers - including Ashworth.

He was arrested in June 2019 for allegedly groping a 30-year-old woman's breasts inside the Magic Hour Rooftop Bar and Lounge in the Moxy Times Square hotel.

Gooding denies the allegations.  

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