Tiger Woods fires back at ‘jilted ex-girlfriend’ in court filing

The courtroom battle between Tiger Woods and ex-girlfriend Erica Herman has another chapter as Woods’ team filed a response to Herman’s lawsuits seeking both financial compensation and release from a non-disclosure agreement.

Woods and Herman dated for about six years. In October 2017, shortly after they began their relationship, Herman signed a non-disclosure agreement stating that any disputes between them should be resolved in arbitration rather than open court. Woods and Herman separated in October 2022; shortly thereafter, Herman filed a lawsuit against the trust managing the Woods residence in Florida.

Last week, she filed a second lawsuit against Woods himself. The purpose of both lawsuits was to exonerate her from the NDA and its requirement to resolve disputes through closed arbitration. In the second lawsuit, Herman argued that she should be exempt from the NDA because of a new federal law that says the NDA cannot be used to cover up sexual assault or harassment. She did not cite any incidents of assault or harassment, but indicated that the NDA should be at least partially revoked as a result.

In documents filed Monday morning in Martin County District Court (Florida) and reviewed by Sportzshala Sports, Woods’ lawyers filed a response to Herman’s allegations, condemning her strategy.

“Ms. Herman does nothing but cite 9 USC §§ 401-402 and its obscene title “Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Involuntary Arbitration Termination Act,” the document says. “She has never made any claims of sexual assault or sexual harassment, does not do so in this landlord and tenant lawsuit and if she is truthful she will never be able to do so.”

Lawyers for Woods also called Herman’s actions “a clear abuse of litigation” and called Herman herself “a jilted ex-girlfriend who wants to publicly challenge false claims in court rather than fulfill her obligation to resolve disputes through confidential arbitration.” “

Woods’ attorneys have asked the court to dismiss Herman’s NDA exemption appeal and force her to arbitrate. No timetable has been set for the consideration of claims by either party.