Note: This article contains descriptions of alleged sexual battery.
James Euringer, the singer and songwriter of the New York punk band Mindless Self Indulgence who performs under the name Jimmy Urine, has been sued for sexual battery of a minor. The lawsuit was filed today in New York Supreme Court, Rolling Stone reports and documents viewed by Pitchfork confirm.
The woman, identified as Jane Doe and kept anonymous, claims in the lawsuit that she and Euringer had a sexual relationship from 1997 to 1999 beginning when she was 15 and Euringer was 27. The complaint states that Euringer began to “groom and manipulate Plaintiff into thinking that his sexually assaultive behavior was not criminal and that he and Plaintiff were in fact in a relationship.”
The lawsuit argues that Euringer acknowledged that she was a minor and behaved “as though she was his girlfriend and the two were in a consensual relationship.” It also notes that he supplied her with a fake ID so she could join him at concerts and drink alcohol, requested that she “act like a small child” during sexual acts, and “play it cool” in public and only display affection in private.
There’s a section of the lawsuit outlining Mindless Self Indulgence’s history of shock tactics under the header “Euringer is a Self-Identified and Self-Promoted Pedophile.” Exhibit A is an advertisement seeking a drummer around 1996, which seeks someone who “does not mind drumming for a band of pedophiles.” The complaint also points to the artwork for 1999’s Tight and the lyrics of the song “Panty Shot.”
James Galus, Mindless Self Indulgence’s manager and producer, is also named in the lawsuit alongside Elektra and Warner Music Group. Galus and the labels are sued for negligence and aiding and abetting sexual battery.
Pitchfork has reached out to Euringer’s representative for comment.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
http://www.rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
http://www.facebook.com/crisistextline (chat support)
SMS: Text “HERE” to 741-741
