Johnny Depp earns legal victory in Hollywood Palladium concert battery case

Back in April, actor Johnny Depp was sued by an anonymous woman who claimed that she was beaten and dragged by his security guards at an Iggy Pop concert at the Hollywood Palladium in December. A judge has handed Depp a key victory in the case, dismissing it unless she re-file it with her real name.

The woman, who filed as a Jane Doe, says that she is a professor at UC Irvine and is disabled. In the lawsuit, she claims that Depps bodyguards assaulted her and dragged her on the floor, pulling her pants off and exposing her buttocks.

She also named Live Nation, the concert organizer, in the suit.

However, the judge ruled on Thursday that, in order for the lawsuit to go any further, the woman has to identify herself. L.A. Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson said that the incident happened in public and since there were no allegations concerning sexual activity or other sensitive or private conduct that courts have recognized as exceptional, she has no reason to file anonymously.

In fact, Depps lawyers say that her name is Robin Eckert, which she used on the police report she filed in December.

Johnson also dismissed her claim for punitive damages, since her complaint requires advance knowledge, authorization or ratification of an employee's conduct by an officer, director or managing agent.

Live Nation hoped to stay out of the mess, but since their employees are named in the suit, they will not get a free pass in the matter, Johnson ruled.

Eckert has 20 days to decide to change her lawsuit and re-file under her real name.