Perry Farrell responds to $10million Dave Navarro and Jane’s Addiction lawsuit

Months after Jane’s Addiction filed a lawsuit against Perry Farrell concerning their on-stage fight last year, the frontman has responded with a legal filing of his own, denying “each and every allegation”.

Back in July, Jane’s Addiction members Dave Navarro, Eric Avery, and Stephen Perkins filed a $10 million lawsuit against Farrell over the fallout from their cancelled 2024 summer tour, which culminated in an on-stage punch-up and the immediate cancellation of the tour, leading to the band’s hiatus.

They filed a complaint against Farrell for “assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract,” which Farrell has now responded to.

According to documents seen by People, the singer denied all allegations against him and listed 35 affirmative defences. These included claims that guitarist Navarro had “unclean hands”, had failed to state “facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action against,” and had also “failed to exercise reasonable care and diligence to mitigate [the] alleged claims and damages.”

The frontman also said he acted in “good faith and without malice” toward Navarro. He’s seeking attorney fees and legal costs related to the case, and is also asking that Navarro not be awarded anything from the lawsuit.

Navarro’s attorney Christopher Frost gave statement to People in response, and said that “the lawsuit speaks for itself.”

“So does the video,” he said. “By responding in this way, Mr. Farrell is not taking any formal legal step to stop the litigation. This is consistent with the fact that they have taken no affirmative steps to advance their claims, whether serving discovery or otherwise, and it is consistent with the strength of the claims by Dave, Eric [Avery], and Stephen [Perkins].”

In the original complaint against Farrell, Jane’s Addiction alleged he had lost them over $10million (£7.4million) thanks to the tour’s cancellation, along with axing plans for their first album by the original-lineup since 1990. It also claimed that Navarro terminated his “$25,000 a month” health insurance, which he had obtained since long COVID forced him to refrain from touring in 2022.

The suit goes on to allege that Perry’s attack on Navarro was “especially painful”, as Perry apparently was aware of Navarro’s continued battle with long Covid. The attack, the suit adds, also triggered Navarro’s memories of his mother’s murder in 1983. It goes on to claim that Farrell punched Navarro again backstage after being confronted by his actions on stage, leaving Navarro “hurt”.

After the fight, all three members agreed they did not want to continue touring, with the suit saying: “Plaintiffs were rightfully afraid and uncomfortable to perform with him again. It was also abundantly clear that Perry was in no condition to continue the tour on which he had struggled to perform.”

Following the fight, Farrell apologised to his fans and bandmates, “especially Dave Navarro”. He added: “Unfortunately, my breaking point resulted in inexcusable behaviour, and I take full accountability for how I chose to handle the situation.” Farrell’s wife Etty has also said he was taking time to “reflect and to heal”, and would be seeking help from an otolaryngologist and a neurologist.

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