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A woman has filed a lawsuit detailing an alleged sexual assault by Declyn "Dex" Lauper, the son of singer Cyndi Lauper and actor David Thornton.
According to legal documents obtained on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the incident reportedly took place in November 2020 at a New York City apartment.
The plaintiff claims that after she refused to perform a sexual act, Dex became agitated and physically restrained her.
The lawsuit describes a harrowing encounter where the rapper allegedly took the woman’s phone and threatened to destroy it.
She claims he then forced himself upon her while using derogatory language and stating that no one would believe her story.
While the allegations focus on Dex’s conduct, the legal action specifically targets his father, David Thornton, for his role as the primary leaseholder of the penthouse where the event allegedly occurred.
The plaintiff argues that David Thornton enabled the assault by providing his son with a space to carry out violent behavior.
The suit claims that Thornton was aware of his son’s "sexually abusive propensities," citing previous allegations and settlements related to similar conduct.
The woman’s legal team specifically pointed to public claims made in 2018 by Love & Hip Hop: New York star Brittney Taylor, who accused Dex of physical and verbal abuse during their relationship.
According to the filing, David Thornton failed to supervise or restrict his son's use of the premises despite knowing about these prior accusations.
The woman seeks damages for physical injuries, emotional distress, and the long-term psychological impact of the alleged assault.
By suing the father rather than the son, the plaintiff aims to hold the property holder accountable for what she describes as a failure to prevent a predictable act of violence.
