LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles judge has dismissed Kevin Hart’s defamation lawsuit against his former personal assistant, Miesha Shakes, following months of legal wrangling over statements made during an online interview.
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On Thursday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie tossed the remaining claims Hart brought against Shakes — including defamation, invasion of privacy, and breach of contract — citing the absence of any declaration to justify continuing the case. The dismissal was made “without prejudice,” meaning Hart can potentially refile the case under different legal circumstances.
Hart, 45, filed the lawsuit in December 2023 and later amended it, targeting comments made by Shakes during a social media interview with blogger Latasha Transrina Kebe, better known as Tasha K. Hart alleged that the interview contained false and damaging statements regarding alleged criminal conduct, which he argued harmed both his personal reputation and that of his company, K. Hart Enterprises Inc.
Shakes, who had her attorney withdraw from the case earlier this month, contended that the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) Hart claimed she violated was unfair and signed under duress, citing her mental health struggles and financial hardship at the time.
“At the time of signing the NDA, I was suffering from significant mental health issues and was under considerable financial distress due to my unemployment,” Shakes stated in a sworn declaration.
Hart’s attorneys claimed the NDA was valid and alleged that Shakes and Kebe had demanded $250,000 in exchange for remaining silent. Shakes denied any involvement in an extortion attempt, stating that her use of the word “charges” in the interview referred to potential civil, not criminal, actions.
In a prior ruling involving an anti-SLAPP motion filed by Kebe — intended to protect against lawsuits that may infringe on free speech — Judge Fujie allowed Hart to move forward with his defamation and privacy claims only against Kebe, while dismissing similar claims made by K. Hart Enterprises. Hart and Kebe later settled their part of the case, though settlement terms were not disclosed.
Hart also denied Shakes’ claims that he secretly recorded a romantic encounter in a Las Vegas hotel in 2017 and stated that she wrongfully shared private information about his marriage following the scandal.
The court’s dismissal brings an end — at least for now — to a legal dispute that touched on issues of celebrity privacy, employment ethics, and the limits of free speech in the digital age.