The lawsuit covers a period from at least 1992 to 2014 and names Jeffries, Smith, and the Jeffries Family Office LLC as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges that Jeffries sexually abused his victims and coerced them into participating in commercial sex acts, often in exchange for money, promises of career advancement, and the possibility of becoming Abercrombie models.
Abercrombie & Fitch, headquartered in New Albany, Ohio, has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit.
Retailer claims it did not know of CEO’s misconduct
Earlier this month, the retailer declared its commitment to conducting an independent investigation into the allegations raised by the BBC. The company emphasized that its current leadership and board of directors were not aware of the accusations regarding Jeffries’ sexual misconduct.
In response to the BBC report, Abercrombie & Fitch expressed shock and disgust at the claims made about Jeffries.
The attorney representing Mike Jeffries, Brian Bieber, issued a statement indicating that Jeffries would not comment on the lawsuit in the press. And emphasized that the matter would be addressed in the courtroom.
