Dr. Dre gets restraining order revoked, judge cites insufficient evidence

Dr. Dre no longer has to keep a distance from the divorce therapist sued him for $10 million for alleged harassment. A California judge ruled Tuesday that Dr. Charles Sophy failed to prove that Dre, born Andre Young, poses a threat to his physical safety. The finding meant that a previous restraining order issued on an interim basis last month was immediately dismissed.

“The court finds that the party requesting the protective order has not met the applicable burden of proof and, therefore, the request is denied. Any previously issued temporary restraining order is hereby terminated,” Los Angeles County Judge Melanie Ochoa ruled Tuesday afternoon, according to a meticulous order obtained by Rolling stone.

Sophy appeared in person at the hearing and gave live testimony. Dre appeared remotely and testified via video. In an affidavit filed Monday, Dre denounced Sophy’s Oct. 9 lawsuit and Oct. 11 restraining order filing as elements of “a misguided attempt to undermine his reputation” after Dre filed a complaint against Sophy last May with the Medical Board of California.

In his own court filings, Sophy alleged that Dre subjected him to a “systematic and vicious” barrage of “intolerable intimidation,” leaving him wearing a bulletproof vest and fearing for his life. He said Dre hired him in 2018 mediate the breakup of his decades-long marriage against his now ex-wife, Nicole Young, but then turned on him after the couple reached a settlement in late 2021. He alleged that Dre had “begun a nearly year-long, sustained campaign of late-night texting, threats of intimidation and violence, and homophobic rhetoric.”

Dre admitted in his filing Monday that he sent some of the text messages, but he said they should be considered in the context of Sophy’s alleged actions. He then denied Sophy’s claim that he had sent people to Sophy’s address to intimidate him.

“In 2023, I discovered that Sophy had attempted to poison my relationship with my son, including by encouraging him to reveal my financial details to the media as part of his attempts to pressure me into my divorce on unfair terms to arrange. The 2023 text messages that Sophy is attaching to his TRO petition were sent in the context of my discovery of his malpractice and my failed attempts to have Sophy explain to me why he took these inappropriate actions,” Dre alleged in his statement.

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“Sophy has accused me of sending/texting him ‘what a little bitch you are’ from a burner phone on October 9, 2024. I didn’t send him this text,” Dre wrote. “Sophy has accused me of having my employees or associates pose as FBI agents, go to his gated community and ask the security guard if they can talk to Sophy almost two years ago. I didn’t do that.”

Dre included a September 30 police report in his Monday complaint summarizing Sophy’s allegations. The report states that Sophy told police he was “concerned for his safety due to recent events involving P. Diddy due to the violent behavior of Young’s friends.”

In a related filing Monday, Dre and his attorney, Howard E. King, argued that Sophy’s “evidence” that he feels emotional distress “consists entirely of invoking the racist caricature that portrays black men, like Young, as inherently violent.”

“Sophy inexplicably links Young to P. Diddy – another black man – and implies that Young’s friends, many of whom are prominent black men, are behaving ‘violently’ without any evidence of violence against Sophy or anyone else ” the filing against the restraining order said. so-called. King had no immediate comment Tuesday evening.

“Today we saw a visibly disturbed Andre Young claim that he believed Dr. Charles Sophy was still his psychiatrist when Mr Young sent him threatening and abusive text messages. We saw how his counselor influenced the career and life’s work of Dr. Sophy threatened. Mr. Young made the bare minimum (by Zoom) necessary to support a filing in which ugly and unfair claims of racism were hurled at my client,” Sophy’s attorney Christopher Frost said in an emailed statement email to Rolling stone. “We have always been aware that we are up against a celebrity in this matter, and while it may be easy to make and amplify these accusatory and disingenuous claims, this does not change the fact that Dr. Sophy has taken legal action solely because of Mr. Young’s consistent pattern of behavior. Dr. Sophy’s fears for his safety and the damage he has suffered are very real, especially now that the temporary relief from the TRO has been lifted. We will continue to vigorously pursue the legal case against Mr. Young, who was not affected by today’s ruling.”

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According to his 22-page lawsuit, filed on October 9, Sophy claims that Dre sent him an “overtly threatening” text message around 10 p.m. on February 16, 2023, stating that Sophy “should pay up.” Sophy said he replied, “Excuse me,” and that Dre allegedly replied, “Yes, you” and, “You’re a piece of shit.”

Sophy said he tried to remain calm and replied the next day with: ‘Good morning, I have no idea what you are talking about and would make myself available to discuss at any time. Thank you.” He says Dre responded by texting, “You screwed up!! Just to be clear, I love being underappreciated.”

According to the complaint, Dre sent another text on March 5, 2023 that read: “What happened doctor? I thought you wanted to talk. Cat goes your tongue? You will have to give me a written apology. If not, I’ll move on. I’m not playing, believe me.”

On August 4, 2023, Dre allegedly sent another text message that read, “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you,” the lawsuit said. Sophy claims the ‘particularly sinister’ lyrics made him ‘more afraid for his life than ever before’.

“Dr. Sophy lives in constant fear. He wears a bulletproof vest every time he steps foot outside, is afraid to leave his house, and is constantly looking over his shoulder. The blatant nature of Young’s continued harassing behavior has Dr. Sophy forced to seek redress and protection,” the lawsuit states. “No one should have to live in constant fear. But Dr. Sophy does – ironically for no other reason than he was trying to help Young resolve the conflict in his own family.”

The lawsuit includes claims of civil harassment and threats of violence based on sexual orientation. Sophy is seeking compensatory damages of at least $10 million and punitive damages to be decided at trial.

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In a statement last month, King said Rolling stone that Dre had filed his “confidential complaint” against Sophy with claims of “dereliction of duty and incredible incompetence.”

“This complaint seeks the revocation of Dr.’s license. Sophy to provide mental health care to needy patients. In gross violation of all applicable standards of care, Dr. Sophy entered into a controversial divorce, while at the same time ‘dealing’ with not only Mr and Mrs Young, but also their children. He was fired when it was revealed that he encouraged one of their children to take sides against Mr. Young, and even encouraged his son to go to the press with false accusations to force a financial settlement that he recommended,” King said in the statement. “Dr. Sophy has consistently rejected the Medical Board’s attempts to investigate these claims, but has now filed this desperate complaint as the Medical Board’s noose continues to tighten.”