Tiger’s ex says she ‘never asserted’ sexual harassment as lawsuits dropped

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Tiger Woods‘ former partner has withdrawn her legal action against the golf legend and the trust that holds his Florida estate, asserting that she never accused him of sexual harassment despite claims made by her attorney.

Erica Herman’s attorney filed a brief notice in state court last week stating that she was voluntarily dismissing her $30 million lawsuit against the trust “with prejudice,” meaning the claim cannot be reasserted later. Herman had alleged that Woods had promised her residency in the 30,000-square-foot (2,800-square meter) beachfront mansion until 2026, but unexpectedly evicted her last year.

“In dismissing this action, Erica Herman states that she was never a victim of sexual harassment or sexual abuse at the hands of Tiger Woods or any of his agents and it is her position that she has never asserted such a claim,” wrote attorney Benjamin Hodas, who had previously asserted that Woods had sexually harassed his client on multiple occasions.

A separate lawsuit against Woods was rejected by a judge in May, and court records show an appeal of that decision was withdrawn this week. There is no indication of a settlement in court documents, although it may have been resolved privately.

Hodas did not respond to requests for comment, and Woods’ attorney, J.B. Murray, declined to comment.

Herman was in a romantic relationship with Woods from 2015 until October 2022, and moved into his $54 million mansion in 2016. She managed his Palm Beach County restaurant both before and during their relationship and signed a nondisclosure agreement in 2017, which forbade her from discussing their relationship publicly and required any legal disputes with Woods to go to private arbitration, not court.

Hodas argued in a May court hearing that Herman did not remember signing the document and claimed that if she did, it was under duress, as she had been informed that she would be fired from the restaurant if she didn’t.

Hodas also argued that the nondisclosure agreement was unenforceable under a new federal law that allows such contracts to be voided in cases of sexual abuse or harassment, contending that Woods’ alleged threat of dismissal was harassment.

“A boss imposing different work conditions on his employee because of their sexual relationship is sexual harassment,” Hodas wrote in a May filing.

Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger rejected Herman’s attempt to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement later in May, calling her allegations “vague and threadbare.”

Forbes Magazine estimates Woods’ net worth at $1.1 billion. In 2017, Woods placed the mansion into the Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, an entity he created with only himself and his two children as beneficiaries.