Peter Nygard, accused of the rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking of 57 women, is claimed to have ordered the rape of his 14- and 15-year old sons, by a known sex worker.
NEW YORK — Two sons of embattled Canadian fashion designer, Peter Nygard, have brought a legal action alleging that as minors, they were the victims of sex trafficking and rape at his behest.
The plaintiffs, whose names have been withheld for their protection, say they want to shine “the light of truth” on the sordid crimes of their father, who also faces accusations of rape, sexual assault, and sex trafficking from 57 women in several countries.
“Each of the sons has experienced, first-hand, the destruction caused by Peter Nygard’s sex trafficking venture and, through their truth, stand for accountability and justice,” according to documents filed Sunday with the US District Court of Southern New York.
“In addition to trafficking his sons, Peter Nygard lied about the sexual abuse and attempted to intimidate his sons into remaining quiet,” the lawsuit says. “But plaintiffs, in this case, refuse to be silenced and, following an investigation in the last several months, Nygard’s Sons have come to realize the lies and corruption of Peter Nygard, including sex trafficking, intimidation, and destruction of countless innocent victims.”
The plaintiffs allege that at Nygard’s direction, they were both statutorily raped by the same “girlfriend” of their father, a known sex worker, who in one case was told by Nygard to “make a man” of the then 14-year-old boy.
In February, Federal agents and New York police officers raided Nygard’s Manhattan headquarters and his Los Angeles home, following a five-month investigation into allegations of sexual assault by a joint child exploitation task force including FBI agents and the NYPD.
In June, attorneys representing the victims of Nygard’s sexual abuse and sex trafficking conspiracies filed a second amended class action complaint on behalf of 57 women who came forward with claims corroborating a decades-long sex trafficking conspiracy among Nygard, the Nygard corporate entities, and numerous Nygard corporate officers and directors who aided and enabled his crimes.
It is alleged that several of the plaintiffs were underage when Nygard sexually assaulted them, including two as young as 14. Others described Nygard’s attempts to bribe or intimidate them after the sexual assaults.
“The bravery of these two young men, who have come forward to testify to their own father’s heinous, decades-long career of shocking sexual crimes, corroborates what so many survivors have already revealed,” said Greg Gutzler, co-counsel for the victims and a partner at DiCello Levitt Gutzler, which also represents Nygard’s sons. “They join victims and witnesses from the United States, Canada, the UK, and the Bahamas, who have courageously come forward with the truth after being intimidated into silence for decades.”
Nygard has repeatedly dismissed the mounting allegations against him as part of a sinister plot by wealthy and powerful enemies who wish to harm him.
“This case and the other cases brought against Peter Nygard are not some grand conspiracy orchestrated by a hedge fund rival, but rather, these cases speak the truth about Peter Nygard’s sex trafficking that has devastated so many lives, that has ripped away dignity and instilled shame,” the complaint states. “Bringing forth this truth is the path to justice, accountability, and healing. That is the reason for bringing this case.”
The civil action seeks damages under the United States Federal sex trafficking statute from Nygard, as well as Nygard Inc., Nygard International Partnership, and Nygard Holdings Limited. It claims that Nygard’s sexual predation is an “open secret” at the Nygard companies and that the companies were “instrumental in knowingly aiding, abetting, facilitating, conspiring, and participating in” the trafficking the plaintiffs while knowing that both were under 18, to engage in a commercial sex act.
The plaintiffs did not come forward immediately following these incidents as they were legitimately and justifiably afraid that Nygard would harm or retaliate against them. The complaint alleges that Nygard uses “his family influence and family manipulation, including psychological and financial pressure, financial resources, political power” as well as threats of force, to intimidate victims and prevent him from coming forward.
The case is John Doe No. 1, a minor, and John Doe No. 2 v. Peter J. Nygard et.al. Case 1:20-cv-06501, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. A copy of the complaint is available upon request.
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