The mayor, through a spokesperson, denied knowing the plaintiff, whose name was being withheld by POLITICO.
“If they ever met, he doesn’t recall it,” a City Hall spokesperson said in a statement. “But he would never do anything to physically harm another person and vigorously denies any such claim.”
Later, Adams stressed the same points to reporters.
“It absolutely did not happen. I don’t recall ever meeting this person. And I would never harm anyone in that magnitude. It did not happen,” Adams said. “It’s going to go its course; it’s going take its process. But it did not happen. And that is not who I am, and that’s who I have never been in my professional life.”
An attorney for the plaintiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The court filing names Adams, New York City, the transit bureau of the New York Police Department and the Guardian Association of the NYPD as defendants.
The plaintiff seeks at least $5 million in damages, according to the summons.
“The claims brought here allege intentional and negligent acts and omissions for physical, psychological, and other injuries suffered as a result of conduct that would constitute sexual offenses,” the document reads.
The three-page summons contained few other details about the alleged assault. It is expected to be followed by a fuller legal complaint.
The one-year lookback window for the Adults Survivors Act closes on Thursday. The legislation allowed for the filing of civil lawsuits accusing individuals and institutions of sexual misconduct regardless of when the alleged incidents occurred.
Former President Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein are among the big names that have been sued under the act.
The sexual assault allegations against Adams are the latest in his legal troubles.
His 2021 campaign for mayor is being federally investigated for collusion with the Turkish government, a probe that included the FBI seizure of his electronic devices and raids on his aides.
Adams’ representatives, including attorneys for his campaign and the city, stress he has not been charged or accused of wrongdoing. They say he is fully cooperating with the investigation.
Jeff Coltin contributed to this report.
