Tiger Woods sued for 39.7 billion won by ex-girlfriend

‘Golf Emperor’ Tiger Woods (47) is continuing a muddy fight with his ex-girlfriend Erica Herman, whom he dated for five years.

Recently, according to multiple entertainment and sports media outlets in the United States, Herman filed a civil suit through the Circuit Court of Martin County, Florida, claiming that the confidentiality agreement reached with Woods was invalid.

The basis for Herman's claim that Woods' confidentiality agreement is invalid is the U.S. Speak Out Act, which loses effect if the confidentiality of the agreement is related to sexual abuse such as sexual assault or sexual harassment. It contains the contents. Therefore, there is speculation that Herman may have been sexually abused by Woods. Herman reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement with Woods in August 2017 when they began dating.

In addition, Herman filed a lawsuit for $30 million in compensation, claiming that he entered into a verbal rental agreement regarding the Florida home where he lived with Woods, but was eventually evicted. In response, Woods countered with a request to dismiss the case, saying that Herman was not a legal tenant and thus had no standing to sue.

In this regard, entertainment media reported Herman's claims in detail. According to the media, Herman was urged by Woods to go on vacation abroad, and when he arrived at the airport, he was told that he could 'never go home again.' Herman claimed that under the verbal agreement, he had the right to rent the home for five years even after he and Woods broke up. Accordingly, a $30 million lawsuit was filed, and Woods countered that there was no verbal contract and that Herman stayed at Woods' house as his girlfriend.

Woods married Swedish Elin Nordegren in 2004 and has one son and one daughter. After five years of marriage, a sex scandal broke out in 2009, and they eventually filed for divorce. Woods later dated several women, including skier Lindsey Vonn and stylist Kristin Smith.

In particular, women's revelations of sexual misconduct against Woods continue, and HBO in the U.S. became a hot topic by producing a documentary containing revelations by a woman known to have been Woods' sexual scandal in 2020 when Woods was dating Herman.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr