In 2017, plaintiff Jamie Nicole Baca, a cosmetics inventor and entrepreneur, was at the San Marino home of Mustapha Baha, one of the members of the Pasadena Angels investment group, which helps launch businesses. Baca previously attempted to pitch her company, JNK Cosmetics, to the group in 2016. Baha allegedly expressed interest in the venture, but then stopped communication. Baca sent Baha a LinkedIn invitation in order to enquire why he had abandoned the investment after initially expressing interest. Baca claimed that in order to consider the potential investment, Baha wanted weekly meetings, so they met on three occasions after the LinkedIn request. At the second meeting, Baha asked Baca to go with him to his house, claiming that he had to let his dog out. Baca claimed that once they were at the house, Baha attempted to kiss her and that when she refused and told him that she was there only for business, Baha apologized. Baca claimed that a third meeting was organized at his home in 2017 and that Baha told her that they would go over documents and work together to complete her investment. Baca claimed that during the meeting, Baha began to compliment her looks and then placed his hand on her thigh. She claimed that when she refused again, he forcefully groped her and kissed her without consent. Baca also claimed that Baha rubbed his erect penis against her body while continuing to grope and assault her and that Baha even restrained her arms, but that she was eventually able to get away. Baca sued Baha; Baha’s investment group, Pasadena Angels Inc.; and a second member of the investment group, Kristin Hiibner. Baca alleged that Baha’s actions constituted battery, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. She also alleged that Hiibner and Pasadena Angels were liable for Baha’s actions. Hiibner and Pasadena Angels were ultimately dismissed from the case, and the matter proceeded against Baha only. Plaintiff’s counsel introduced numerous emails that indicated that the relationship between Baca and Baha was only a business relationship. Thus, counsel argued that Baha’s actions were uninvited and unwanted. Baha claimed that he had initially declined Baca’s investment and that his wife tragically died in an automobile/pedestrian accident soon thereafter. He alleged that Baca was aware of him declining the investment and of his wife’s death and that Baca sent the LinkedIn invite almost one year after his wife’s death. Baha claimed that he thought it was interesting that Baca reached out to him, so he invited her to first coffee, then drinks and finally to his home for brunch. He claimed that he made it very clear to Baca that he was lonesome and interested in a personal relationship and that Baca never told him that she was involved with someone else and, instead, led him on to try to get some money for her investment. Defense counsel contended that Baha admitted that he kissed Baca while at his home, but denied everything else and that Baca changed her story three times about the alleged sexual touching. Thus, counsel disputed Baca’s allegations, and questioned why Baca agreed to the third meeting if she was in fear of Baha., Baca claimed that she suffers from emotional distress as a result of the sexual battery and her fear about what Baha would do during the meetings. Baca sought recovery of damages for her past and future emotional pain and suffering. Defense counsel denied there was any sexual battery or that Baca suffered any emotional distress. Counsel argued that if Baca was in distress about the meetings, she should not have agreed to the third meeting at Baha’s house.