R. Kelly has lost a lawsuit by default after failing to appear in Illinois’ Cook County Circuit Court to answer questions about allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman when she a teenager.
The Chicago Tribune reports that the victim, now 36, filed a lawsuit in February alleging that Kelly had repeated sexual encounters with her beginning in June 1998 when she was 16.
The victim’s attorneys said the singer never filed an appearance in the lawsuit after being issued a court summons for failing to pay child support.
On Tuesday, Judge Moira Johnson granted the victim’s team a request to enter a judgment against Kelly, which could be reversed if Kelly’s attorneys get involved in the suit.
If the singer’s team does not get involved, Kelly could be ordered to pay damages as soon as next month, when the victim is expected to testify.
Kelly also faces 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four separate victims.