Syracuse, NY – A federal judge in the Northern District of New York has issued a default judgment against Justin Cathal Geever, professionally known as Justin Sane, the former frontman of the punk band Anti-Flag, awarding nearly $2 million to plaintiff Kristina Sarhadi, who accused him of rape and sexual assault.
In a ruling issued on July 22, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes found Geever civilly liable for assault and battery/sexual battery after he repeatedly failed to respond to the lawsuit. The court awarded $1.17 million in compensatory damages and an additional $750,000 in punitive damages, for a total judgment of $1,920,800.
The judgment follows an amended complaint filed by law firm McAllister Olivarius in March 2024, which claimed that Geever planned to “flee to Europe within the next few days” to avoid facing justice, after more than a year of “purposefully and unlawfully attempting to avoid service” of Sarhadi’s initial lawsuit. Geever’s exit came shortly after he sold his Pittsburgh home to his long-time girlfriend and attempted, according to the complaint, to “hide his assets by transferring funds overseas to an Irish bank account.” In his absence, Geever named his sister, Mary B. Geever, a practicing lawyer, to hold his Power of Attorney, yet neither have responded to Sarhadi’s suit in the two years since.
Sarhadi’s claims stem from a 2010 incident when Geever raped her in a motel room after a concert and social gathering in New York. At the time, Sarhadi was a devoted Anti-Flag fan who trusted the band’s strong feminist messaging and “straight edge” values. The lawsuit details how Geever used his position, “safe” public persona, age disparity, and his band’s reputation to gain Sarhadi’s trust before isolating and assaulting her.
In awarding damages, the court cited the “severe and permanent psychological, mental, and emotional injuries” Sarhadi sustained as a result of the attack, including C-PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder, anxiety, night terrors, and suicidal ideation. The court accepted testimony and medical documentation from Sarhadi, her family, her partner, multiple doctors, a trauma specialist, and a clinical psychologist, all of which supported her account and the long-term impact on her life.
In her decision, Judge Sannes wrote that Geever’s actions “shattered [Sarhadi’s] emotional well-being,” causing life-long ramifications years after the attack, and this conduct was especially “morally reprehensible because he used his fame and status to lure a much younger fan into his hotel room under false pretenses.”
Sarhadi initially spoke about the incident on a podcast in July 2023, without naming Geever or the band. That same day, Anti-Flag abruptly disbanded, deleted their website, and wiped their social media accounts. Geever publicly denied being the person in question before escaping service by leaving the United States. He has remained silent throughout the two-year process, despite additional allegations from women around the world.
For Sarhadi, Geever’s failure to face accountability after his 35-year career as an “icon” of the feminist music scene is especially disturbing. “I grew up in awe of Anti-Flag’s ethical and unapologetic messaging,” she states. “For many of us in the punk scene, their fierce commitment to calling out injustices, raising awareness and protecting survivors of abuse – with songs like ‘Silence = Violence’ and ‘This is What a Feminist Looks Like’ – created a sense of sanctuary in a hostile, uncaring world. Today it is crystal clear that Geever used this very messaging as the lure to cause irreparable harm to countless fans like myself. His silence in the wake of our pleas for justice and his disappearance from public life only serve as more evidence of the cruelty, hypocrisy, and betrayal I experienced in 2010.”
Sarhadi hopes that Judge Sannes’ decision offers hope to other survivors: “If I can encourage one other person to seek support instead of suffering in silence, this 15-year long process has been worth it.”
This is a rare example of a high-profile civil sexual assault judgment against a prominent figure in the modern punk rock scene. Dr. Ann Olivarius, Chair of the Executive Committee at McAllister Olivarius and Sarhadi’s lawyer, issued the following statement:
“I predict that in five years the music industry will be viewed the same way as the Catholic Church or the Boy Scouts — a powerful force that also enabled and shielded sexual predators for decades. “Drugs, sex & rock ‘n roll” was a reality that meant a lot of young women got abused. The bands had handlers who made it all happen and executives who covered it all up because so much money depended on it. Brave survivors like Kristina are finding their voice, and there are lots of them now coming forward.”
The press is encouraged to refer to the attached Decision and Order for a complete understanding of Sarhadi’s claims and the judge’s findings.
Case Information:
Kristina Sarhadi v. Justin Cathal Geever, No. 1:24-cv-00031 (BKS/PJE), United States District Court, Northern District of New York.
For Media Inquiries:
Eva Hoier Greene
E: egreene@mcolaw.com
T: +34 606 980 457