Tiger Woods blasts “jilted ex-girlfriend” Erica Herman

The legal battle between Tiger Woods and his ex-girlfriend Erica Herman took another twist today.

Lawyers representing the 15-time major champion filed a new motion in Florida today in a bid to force Herman to abide by the terms of the former couple’s original NDA and settle her dispute through arbitration.

Herman, 38, is seeking more than $30million in damages from Woods whom she alleges tricked her into leaving his Florida mansion following the end of their relationship last autumn.

Court papers filed by Herman’s lawyers claim that Woods’ agents told her “to pack a suitcase for a short vacation and, when she arrived at the airport, they told her she had been locked out of her residence.”  

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This, Herman says, is in violation of the Florida Residential Landlord Tenant Act.  

She claims Woods entered into “oral tenancy agreement” with her when she moved into his home. In exchange for the right to live there for a “certain period of time”, Herman provided “valuable services” for the former world No.1 and his family. 

Herman brought the action against the Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust – thought to have been set up by Woods when he purchased his Florida home in 2006 – in October last year.  

Woods, however, hit back last week.

The 47-year-old filed papers seeking to join the lawsuit, arguing that Herman only sued the Trust in order to evade an arbitration clause in a non-disclosure agreement between the pair. 

Woods’ lawyers claim that he should be a defendant in the case, and submitted a motion to that effect on Wednesday. 

In new court documents submitted earlier today, Woods attorneys described Herman’s attempts to have the NDA nullified under the terms of the Speak Out Act – which prevents such agreements from being enforced where there are accusations of sexual assault or sexual harassment – as “utterly merciless”.

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“She [Herman] has never asserted any claims for sexual assault or sexual harassment, does not do so in this landlord-tenant action, and, if she is truthful, can never do so,’ they claim.

“Ms. Herman’s bare reference to the statute, without any allegations to support its application to the facts of this case, is insufficient to relieve Ms. Herman from her contractual obligation to arbitrate. Rather, it is a transparent abuse of the judicial process that undermines the purpose of the federal statute and those whom the statute seeks to protect.”

They allege that Herman is “a jilted ex-girlfriend who wants to publicly litigate specious claims in court, rather than honor her commitment to arbitrate.”

Woods’ next competitive appearance is expected to be next month’s Masters Tournament, taking place from April 6-9.

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor