From love to legal action. Tiger Woods’ split from girlfriend Erica Herman was revealed when the former restaurant owner sued the pro golfer.
Herman filed a lawsuit in October 2022 alleging that Woods – whom she began dating in 2017 – used “trickery” to kick her out of his home after their split in fall 2022. In court documents obtained by Us Weekly in March 2023, Herman claimed that Woods’ alleged actions violated their “oral tenancy agreement” which gave her “the right to live” in the athlete’s Hobe Sound,
Florida, home for “a certain duration of time.” Elsewhere in the suit, Herman alleged that Woods’ employees encouraged her to take “a short vacation” only to inform her at the airport that she’d been “locked out” of the PGA star’s residence and could not return.
The Florida native is suing the Woods’ trust – the titleholder on his home – for $30 million, claiming that the sum represents the “reasonable rental value” of her ex’s residence for the remaining five years of their alleged oral tenancy agreement.
Herman also filed separate documents in March 2023 attempting to nullify a non-disclosure agreement that Woods had her sign when the pair began their relationship.
“Because of the aggressive use of the Woods NDA against her by the Defendant and the trust under his control, the Plaintiff is unsure whether she may disclose, among other things, facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has,” read court documents obtained by Us.
The filing added that Herman felt “unsure what other information about her own life she may discuss or with whom.”
The University of Central Florida alum cited the Speak Out Act – which “prohibits the judicial enforceability of a nondisclosure clause or nondisparagement clause agreed to before a dispute arises involving sexual assault or sexual harassment in violation of federal, tribal, or state law,” per Congress – as grounds for nullifying the NDA.
Herman and Woods have not publicly addressed their split or the lawsuit. Us has reached out to their reps for comment.
Prior to their tumultuous breakup, Herman stood by the World Golf Hall of Famer’s side after a February 2021 car accident left him with severe leg injuries.
“Erica dropped everything to be with Tiger the moment she heard what happened,” a source exclusively told Us at the time of the incident. “She’s been by his bedside, holding his hand and telling him everything’s going to be OK. He’s a champ and he’s got this. She’s been so compassionate and supportive – all his friends and family have.
He couldn’t have asked for more in that regard.” Woods previously sparked controversy in 2009 when he was caught cheating on then-wife Elin Nordegrenwith several women. The exes – who share daughter Sam, born in 2007, and son Charlie, born in 2009 – finalized their divorce in 2010. The California native sought treatment for sex addiction amid the scandal.
Erica Herman Cites Sexual Harassment in Court Documents Herman filed court documents in March 2023 attempting to nullify an NDA that Woods had her sign in 2017.
The businesswoman claimed that the agreement was “invalid and unenforceable,” citing the Speak Out Act — which “prohibits the judicial enforceability of a nondisclosure clause or nondisparagement clause agreed to before a dispute arises involving sexual assault or sexual harassment in violation of federal, tribal, or state law,” per Congress.
Tiger Woods Slams ‘Meritless’ Speak Out Act Reference Woods called out Herman’s
“meritless” reference to the Speak Out Act, which protects victims of sexual abuse, in March 2023 court docs obtained by Us. In the filing, he referred to his ex as “a jilted ex-girlfriend who wants to publicly litigate specious claims in court, rather than honor her commitment to arbitrate disputes in a confidential arbitration proceeding.
” He further argued that citing the congressional act was “a transparent abuse of the judicial process that undermines the purpose of the federal statute and those whom the statute seeks to protect.”
Relationship ‘Breakdown’ Before Split As the pair’s legal drama continued to make headlines, a source exclusively told Us that Woods and Herman had “a breakdown in their relationship” before calling it quits.
“Erica thought Tiger was never home, and Tiger thought Erica spent too much and lived too lavish a lifestyle,” the source explained, noting that the current exes “started out really strong” when they started dating.
Regarding her lawsuit, the source told Us that Herman “feels rewarded for all the help she’s given” Woods throughout their romance.
However, she “hopes [Tiger] will settle” before the case goes to court.
Erica Herman sues Tiger Woods for $30 million In October 2022, Herman sued Woods’ trust for $30 million, claiming the world golf champion breached a verbal lease agreement that she could live at his residence for a “certain period of time” in exchange for providing “valuable services.
” » In the documents, Herman alleges that she was “deceptively” locked out of her home with five years remaining on her verbal agreement with Woods.
She asserted $30 million was the “fair rental value” of the property for the remaining five years of the proposed agreement.
Erica Herman accuses Tiger Woods of sexual harassment In May 2023, Herman filed new court documents alleging that Woods sexually harassed her shortly after she started working at her Florida restaurant him in 2014.
Her lawyers allege that Woods “forced her to sign an NDA” in 2017 or she would “be fired.
” The duo had a romantic relationship at the time, but lawyers pointed out in the filing that “a boss imposes different working conditions on his employees for reasons of Surname”.
sexual intercourse is sexual harassment.
” Herman continues to claim that Woods sexually harassed her again in 2022 when he allegedly kicked her out of their home.
“The landlord allowed her a place to live on the condition that she had to have sex with her roommate,” Herman’s attorney wrote in court filings.
“This conduct constitutes sexual harassment under federal and Florida fair housing laws.
Erica Herman Claims Tiger Woods’ Lawyer Broke Up With Her Herman Alleges In A May 2023 Filing That She Was Dumped On Airport Tarmac And Kicked Out Of Her Married Home And Woods after a subsequent “dispute” in October 2022.
“The plan involved convincing Ms.
Herman was packing for a weekend cruise to the Bahamas.
She and Mr. Woods often travel for short periods of time for quick breaks and she was informed that this would be another such trip,” documents obtained by Us said.
“So she took the bare minimum, hoping to return home in a few days.
He then drove her to the airport, where a private plane was waiting for her.
Instead of getting on the plane together, Woods allegedly told Herman to talk to his lawyer and “left” the scene.
“Mr. Woods’ California lawyer suddenly told her that she wasn’t going anywhere, that she would never see Mr.Woods again, that she had been kicked out of the house and she didn’t You can go back,” she said.
“She would not even be able to see the children or her pets again.
” Herman was allegedly informed by Woods’ attorney that she had “no legal rights” before he tried to “force her to agree to a non-disclosure and arbitration agreement,” which she refused to sign.
Erica Herman Must Uphold NDA A Florida judge ruled in May 2023 that Herman’s attempt to throw out the former couple’s NDA was “vague and threadbare,” arguing that there was evidence that pointed to an agreement being signed.
“Herman has had the opportunity [to] provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, however, she has not done so,” read docs obtained by Us.
The ruling also stated that Herman and Woods must resolve their legal dispute through private mediation.
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