Jada Pinkett Smith Seeks Court-Ordered Exam in $3 Million Suit

Caption: Jada Pinkett Smith, 2014. Credit: Dominick D / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Jada Pinkett Smith is asking a Los Angeles judge to order an independent medical evaluation of Bilaal Salaam, who is seeking $3 million in a lawsuit alleging threats, coercion and emotional distress. Her lawyers argue that Salaam placed his mental condition directly at issue by seeking damages for severe and continuing distress.

The request is a discovery motion, not a finding about Salaam’s health. Pinkett Smith denies wrongdoing, and Salaam’s surviving claims remain allegations after the court narrowed his lawsuit earlier this year.

The $3 Million Claim Makes Medical Evidence Part of the Dispute

Pinkett Smith’s lawyers say Salaam attributes major personal and physical consequences to the alleged intimidation. Because those claimed injuries are part of his damages case, the defense argues it should be allowed to have an independent psychiatrist evaluate him.

The Proposed Examination Would Be Narrowly Tied to His Claims

The defense proposed a five-to-six-hour evaluation by a psychiatrist in February. The request does not establish any diagnosis and should not be described as evidence that Salaam has a particular mental-health condition.

The Lawsuit Has Already Been Reduced Once

A judge partially granted Pinkett Smith’s anti-SLAPP motion in April, leaving only some of Salaam’s claims alive. The remaining dispute concerns alleged threats, coercion and intimidation through intermediaries, which Pinkett Smith contests.

A Nov. 9 Hearing Will Decide Whether the Exam Goes Forward

The motion is scheduled for a Nov. 9 hearing. Until then, the medical examination remains a request by the defense rather than a court-ordered step.

References: Jada Pinkett Smith Asks Judge to Order Mental Evaluation For Man Suing Her