London – Crispin Odey, a prominent City financier, is facing his most serious allegation yet as he has been accused of rape in a civil lawsuit. The accusation emerged in high court documents when three new claimants came forward to join two others in a legal action against Odey Asset Management’s founder.
The high court in London heard an application to determine whether the three women could join the existing lawsuit alleging misconduct by Odey. Last year, Odey faced allegations of sexual assault or harassment from multiple women, which led to his departure from OAM. He has denied any wrongdoing in the past.
Previously, two women had already filed civil lawsuits in the high court claiming they were sexually assaulted by Odey and were suing him and OAM. Elizabeth-Anne Gumbel KC, the barrister representing the new claimants, argued that their cases were similar and should be heard together with the existing claims.
One of the women alleging rape claims that Odey assaulted her at his home in the 1990s. Odey’s barrister stated that the financier had only received a letter of claim regarding that specific allegation. Gumbel argued that there were significant similarities and overlap in the facts alleged in the existing claims and the new cases.
Odey’s lawyers contended that the claims should be heard separately as the alleged sexual assaults took place on different dates and under different circumstances. The judge, Lisa Sullivan, ruled that the claims of the three new women would not be dealt with simultaneously and must be filed individually. Therefore, it is now expected that the five women will sue Odey separately.
Last year, the Financial Times reported allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Odey by 20 women. These allegations led to his removal from his hedge fund business and the closure of OAM. In response, Odey stated that the allegations had not been proven in court and that he had done nothing illegal.
Both Gardner Leader, the law firm representing Odey, and Odey himself have been approached for comment on the current civil case. Claire Glasgow, director at law firm FieldFisher, representing the women, highlighted that the court hearing mainly focused on the management of the claims leading up to the trial. Glasgow mentioned that despite being filed separately, the cases might be run together and heard by the same judge when the time comes.
This latest development further escalates the legal battle against Odey, who remains under scrutiny as the civil lawsuits proceed.