16 Years After His Death, Atlantic Records CEO Accused Of Assault

Ahmet Ertegun and Jan Roeg

A former music manager has accused Ahmet Ertegun, the late co-founder and longtime chief executive of Atlantic Records, of sexually assaulting her multiple times spanning decades, and she alleges that the record company covered it up. reports The L-A Times.

Jan Roeg filed a lawsuit on Monday in New York state court against Ertegun‘s estate and Atlantic Records, which is owned by Warner Music Group, for sexual assault, sexual battery, negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress starting in the early 1980s. She seeks monetary damages that would be set during a trial.

Roeg filed the lawsuit under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, which was signed into law earlier this year and went into effect on Nov. 24. The new law allows survivors of sexual assault to sue their abusers even if the statute of limitations has expired. Ertegun died in 2006 at age 83.

Roeg alleged in a 28-page complaint that during her decades-long working relationship with Atlantic Records, Ertegun groped her, masturbated in front of her and attempted to physically force her to perform oral sex on him while riding in a car together. She said the record company was aware of other instances of alleged sexual assault and harassment at the hands of the former executive, yet failed to act and protect Roeg and other women.