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Wigdor LLP Represents Rape Victim In Gender Motivated Violence Act Lawsuit Against Christopher Dawson

Wigdor LLP represents a woman who was raped by Christopher Dawson, as alleged in a lawsuit filed July 9, 2020 in New York State Supreme Court asserting claims under the Gender Motivated Violence Act (“GMVA”).

As set forth in the Complaint, Taylor Lawrence was the Head of Marketing & Investor Relations at Wellspring Capital Management LLC (“Wellspring ”) from approximately September 2010 through January 2018.  As alleged, Ms. Lawrence was raped by Christopher Dawson, the son of Wellspring’s CEO, William (“Bill”) F. Dawson, while at Bill Dawson’s apartment.

As set forth in the Complaint, when Ms. Lawrence told Bill Dawson that his son had raped her, Bill Dawson responded by saying: “I will destroy you.  I will ruin you” if Ms. Lawrence ever pursued those allegations.

The GMVA permits victims of sexual assault to seek civil recovery for acts of violence committed because of an individual’s gender.  Wigdor LLP was one of the first firms to utilize the GMVA in connection with its representation of the hotel maid in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case.

Ms. Lawrence is represented by Wigdor LLP Founding Partner Douglas H. Wigdor and Partner David E. Gottlieb.

Statement from Douglas H. Wigdor and David E. Gottlieb:

“As the filed complaint makes clear, Christopher Dawson appears to believe that his privilege and wealth allow him to behave with impunity.  We look forward to using the Gender Motivated Violence Act to hold him accountable for raping Ms. Lawrence so that she can begin the process of moving forward with her life.”

Read the Full Complaint Here

Institutional Investor
“Lawsuit: Wellspring CEO Told Employee He Would ‘Ruin’ Her If She Went Public With Rape Allegations Against His Son”
July 9, 2020
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Heavy
“Christopher Dawson: Wellspring CEO’s Son Accused of Sexual Assault in Lawsuit”
July 10, 2020
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Law360
“Wellspring Worker Told To Stay Quiet About Rape, Suit Says”
July 13, 2020
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Daily Mail
“Wall Street tycoon takes leave of absence as ex-employee claims he threatened her when she told him his 18-year-old son had drugged and raped her in his apartment”
July 15, 2020
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New York Post
“Private equity tycoon’s son involved in sexual assault lawsuit”
July 9, 2020
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Bloomberg
“Wellspring CEO Takes Leave After Son Accused of Rape in Lawsuit”
July 13, 2020
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New York Post
“Wellspring CEO takes leave after explosive rape allegations against his son”
July 14, 2020
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