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 McAllister Olivarius client Kristina Sarhadi, who accused him of rape and sexual assault.
News of the judgment was covered in major media outlets. Speaking to reporters, Dr. Ann Olivarius, Chair of the Executive Committee at McAllister Olivarius, commented:
“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, and 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.”
McO client Kristina Sarhadi comments:
“I grew up in awe of Anti-Flag’s ethical and unapologetic messaging. 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.”
The default judgment, delivered on 22 July 2025 by Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes, represents a significant victory for survivors of sexual violence and has drawn widespread media attention to abuse within the music scene.
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