Derrick Dixon’s Lawsuit Against Tyler Perry Hits a Major Roadblock
Back in June, former Tyler Perry’s The Oval cast member Derrick Dixon shocked folks when he filed a workplace sexual harassment lawsuit against Tyler Perry, claiming he was pressured into a relationship just to keep his job.
At the time, the allegations sent social media into a frenzy. But now, that lawsuit just took a serious hit.
Judge Approves Jurisdiction Switch to Georgia
Media Take Out confirmed that this week, a judge has granted Tyler Perry’s request to move the case out of California and into Georgia.
That change might sound technical, but for Derrick, it is potentially game over.
The Statute of Limitations Problem
Here’s where things get sticky.
In Georgia, workplace sexual harassment claims have a very tight clock. For civil workplace harassment, a complaint generally must be filed with the EEOC within 180 days of the last alleged incident. For civil sexual assault or abuse claims, the statute of limitations is typically two years.
Derrick’s alleged incidents date back to 2019.
According to court recordsDerrick’s own complaint against Tyler Perry, Derrick did not file his EEOC complaint until more than three years after the last reported incident. He also filed the lawsuit more than three years after his final alleged inappropriate encounter with Tyler Perry, according to Derrick’s complaint.
In Georgia, that timing is a huge problem.
Tyler Perry’s Next Move Seems Obvious
Now that the case is officially in Georgia, Tyler Perry’s legal team is expected to file a motion to dismiss, arguing the lawsuit is barred by the statute of limitations.
And if you read the pleadings and look at the dates laid out in Derrick’s own complaint, Media Take Out’s legal experts say a Georgia federal judge may not have much wiggle room. The law is the law, and the clock appears to have run out.
What This Means Going Forward
This does not mean the allegations were proven false. It simply means the case may never get its day in court because it was filed too late under Georgia law.
For Derrick, this is a brutal setback. For Tyler Perry, it is a major legal win, at least procedurally.
At this point, all signs point to the lawsuit being tossed before it ever reaches discovery. And if that happens, this explosive case could be over just as fast as it started.