On Wednesday night, May 17, a Florida judge decided that Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend must abide by a nondisclosure agreement she allegedly signed and resolve her litigation demanding millions from the golf superstar through private arbitration behind closed doors.
In an 11-page decision, Circuit Judge Elizabeth Metzger dismissed Erica Herman’s attempt to overturn the 2017 agreement by alleging sexual harassment by Woods, finding Herman’s charges “vague and threadbare.”
Metzger stated, “Herman has had the opportunity (to) provide factual specificity for any claim relating to sexual assault or sexual harassment, but she has not done so.”
Metzger also stated that the evidence demonstrates that Herman and Woods drafted a nondisclosure agreement in 2017, even though her attorney, Benjamin Hodas, now wonders whether she actually signed it.
At a hearing on May 9, Hodas admitted that Herman signed an agreement, but she doesn’t recall ever seeing the one Woods’ attorneys presented to the court.
Metzger stated that if Herman had categorically denied signing the agreement, she would have ordered a hearing.
But, because Herman is unsure whether she signed it or not, the arbitrator must determine. It is unknown whether Hodas will file an appeal.
Herman, 39, had sued both Woods, 47, and the trust that owns his $54 million Florida estate, demanding $30 million from the latter in connection with alleged sexual harassment charges.
Woods’ net worth is estimated to be $1.1 billion by Forbes Magazine.
Herman, who worked at Woods’ Palm Beach County restaurant before and during their personal involvement, claims the nondisclosure agreement is invalid under a new federal rule that states such contracts can be voided if sexual abuse or sexual harassment happened.
In court documents, she said that Woods threatened to terminate her if she didn’t sign a nondisclosure agreement.
Hodas stated that treating one employee differently than others because they have a sexual relationship is a form of harassment.
However, the sexual harassment claim was barely referenced at last week’s hearing. Metzger informed Hodas that she wanted more information about what allegedly occurred before she could examine it.
Hodas stated that he was unable to share additional information publicly for fear of violating the nondisclosure agreement if it is finally upheld.
Murray has called the claim “utterly meritless.”
In her case against Woods, Herman wanted Metzger to either void the nondisclosure agreement or give her advice on what she could disclose publicly.
She further claimed that the contract only covers her professional relationship with Woods and not their personal affairs.
She bases her $30 million claim against the trust on the cost of renting a house like Woods’ oceanfront mansion north of Palm Beach for the six years of occupancy she was allegedly promised by the golfer and then refused.
Woods hired Herman in 2014 to help build and subsequently run the golfer’s The Woods sports bar and restaurant in neighboring Jupiter — but they disagree on when their romantic relationship and cohabitation began.
According to Herman’s court documents, their personal involvement began in 2015, and she moved into Woods’ approximately 30,000-square-foot estate in the affluent Hobe Sound enclave in late 2016.
She claims that in 2017, Woods verbally told her that she could live there for at least another 11 years. Herman claims that Woods pushed her to leave the position in 2020 so she could spend more time caring for him and his children.
According to Woods’ court pleadings, their romantic involvement began in 2017 and she moved in with him in August of that year, around the time the contested nondisclosure agreement was written.
