Ricky Martin lawyer says his nephew tried to blackmail him and damage his image with false sexual harassment allegations
Ricky Martin has taken legal action against his nephew, who accused him of sexual harassment.
On Wednesday, the 50-year-old singer filed a lawsuit against his nephew Dennis Sanchez Martin, accusing him of blackmail.
The filing obtained by PEOPLE comes weeks after Sanchez dropped her sexual assault complaint against Martin; The judge has lifted the restraining order against the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” singer.
“The situation continues, despite the defendant voluntarily withdrawing from the case he initiate against the plaintiff on the basis of lies, in which he admit under oath that he was never sexually assaulte by the plaintiff,” Martins wrote in the attorney’s file.
According to Martin’s complaint, Sanchez – whose mother is Martin’s sister – initially filed a claim against the former Broadway star. After she unfollow Sanchez on social media and “ignored” his request to set up a social media page for Martin’s children.
Sanchez allegedly posted Martin’s phone number and forced the singer to change it.
Months later, Sanchez filed a sexual assault suit against the singer, seeking a restraining order.
In his lawsuit, Sanchez alleges that he and Martin had been romantically involve for seven months. And that Martin “did not accept” that the allege relationship ended two months before Sanchez’s allegations. He said he was “fearful for his safety” also ask for the warrant.
A judge initially gave Sanchez a 20-day restraining order against Martin, which expired on July 21. On July 4, Martin was summon to appear in court on July 21 to represent his side.
On July 5, the document said that Sanchez allegedly telephoned Martin’s legal team “to negotiate an economic advantage in exchange for withdrawing his application” to obtain a restraining order. Martin’s lawyer refused.