A judge has ordered mediation by the parties in a lawsuit filed by a former member of the girl band Dream against Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter, in which she alleges he raped her in his Santa Monica apartment in 2003.
Melissa Schuman’s Santa Monica Superior Court lawsuit was brought in April 2023 and alleges sexual battery, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Schuman also names as a defendant Carter’s company, Kaotic Productions. She first went public with her allegations against Carter in 2017.
On Wednesday, Judge Lisa K. Sepe-Wiesenfeld directed both sides to conduct mediation with an internal Superior Court service and complete it by Jan. 10, 2027. The judge also scheduled a trial date of May 10, 2027.
In her suit, Schuman contends the now-45-year-old Backstreet Boys vocalist invited her to his Santa Monica apartment in 2003, while both were working on filming a teen horror film called “The Hollow.” The complaint further states that Carter, who was with a male friend, invited her over to “hang out and play video games.”
Schuman went to his apartment with her roommate, and while there, Carter began making cocktails, and the lawsuit contends he put some type of drug in her drink. Carter led her to a back office under the pretense of sharing some new music he was working on, but he began sexually assaulting her, eventually raping her in a bedroom, the lawsuit states.
Carter countersued Schuman in July 2024, alleging defamation, intentional interference with prospective economic advantage and intentional interference with contractual relations. Carter contends that Schuman fabricated the alleged assault to extort money from him.
In Nevada, Carter has also filed a conspiracy-based lawsuit against Schuman and other women alleging sexual assault by the singer.
In joint court papers, the attorneys state that Schuman’s deposition is scheduled Feb. 24-26 and Carter’s March 2-4.