Tyrone Blackburn says he’s getting ready a category motion lawsuit in federal court docket towards T.D. Jakes, accusing the high-profile pastor of sexual abuse and trafficking involving a number of male accusers.

In a newly filed court docket doc in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Blackburn alleges that Jakes and people linked to his ministry exploited weak younger males over a number of years.

The submitting comes as a part of Blackburn’s ongoing authorized battle with Jakes, who beforehand sued Pastor Duane Youngblood for defamation after Youngblood publicly accused Jakes of grooming and abuse.

Blackburn’s newest submitting defends himself towards what he calls Jakes’ lawyer Dustin Pusch’s “abusive litigation tactics” and alerts a broader authorized offensive.

He claims he’ll characterize a gaggle of male survivors in a sweeping class motion case. The lawyer says a number of males have already submitted affidavits describing sexual misconduct and grooming, together with being transported throughout state strains in violation of the federal Mann Act.

He additionally names Cora Jakes, Jakes’ daughter, within the submitting, alleging she engaged in manipulative behavior related to child custody and abuse.

Blackburn argues that the authorized assaults towards him—together with bar complaints and threats of sanctions—are an effort to stop him from representing survivors. He insists he received’t be intimidated.

The authorized feud started when Jakes filed a defamation go well with towards Youngblood, who had accused the pastor of making an attempt to provoke sexual contact with him throughout a church journey within the Nineteen Eighties. Youngblood’s brother, Richard Edwin Youngblood, additionally alleged that Jakes made inappropriate advances.

Jakes has denied all accusations, calling them fabrications meant to extort cash. His authorized crew claims Youngblood requested for $6 million to settle the matter privately.

They argue that Youngblood’s authorized filings included faux case legislation and contradictions.

Blackburn represented Youngblood in that case however was eliminated after submitting paperwork full of AI-generated errors.

Jakes’ lawyers now want Blackburn or his client to pay nearly $76,000 in legal fees for the time spent correcting those mistakes.

Blackburn admitted to utilizing defective AI instruments however says the penalty might destroy his legislation follow. He requested the choose for leniency, suggesting additional training as a extra applicable punishment.

Despite the sanctions listening to, Blackburn says the unique defamation case has solely amplified the voices of different alleged victims.

He named Richard Brandon Coleman, Jakes’ former son-in-law, as one of many accusers. Blackburn says the category motion go well with is shifting ahead regardless of the authorized strain from Jakes’ crew.

The sanctions listening to over Blackburn’s filings occurred earlier this yr, and a ruling on the $76,000 reimbursement request continues to be pending.

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