Tiger Woods’ ex-girlfriend, whose relationship with Woods ended in October, has filed legal complaints against Woods over a non-disclosure agreement and also her residency at Woods’ house in Hobe Sound, Fla.
According to recent court filings in Martin County, Fla., Woods’ former girlfriend — Erica Herman — is seeking a court’s judgment on the extent of the NDA, which she believes is unenforceable. In a separate filing, Herman alleged a hasty breakup and is suing for her right to seek damages for the remaining five years of an alleged oral tenancy agreement.
At the core of the disputes is the NDA, which was submitted to the court via a related case in mostly-redacted form. The NDA, which, according to court filings, was signed on Aug. 9, 2017, states that “any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising between us of any kind or nature whatsoever…shall be resolved by mandatory BINDING confidential arbitration to the greatest extend permitted by law.”
But Herman is pursuing a court’s ruling to better understand if the NDA is enforceable, as well as the obligations of her and potentially the people around her in regards to her relationship with Woods. Herman’s complaint states she is “unsure whether she may disclose, among other things, facts giving rise to various legal claims she believes she has. She is also currently unsure what other information about her own life she may discuss or with whom.”
In the complaint filed this week, Herman cites the Speak Out Act, signed into law in December 2022, which prohibits NDAs agreed to before “a dispute arises involving sexual assault or sexual harassment in violation of federal, tribal or state law.” Herman has not specifically accused Woods of sexual abuse, but the civil cover sheet filed by her lawyer, Benjamin Hodas, indicates the case involves allegations of sexual abuse.
Woods’ agent did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Legal disputes between Woods and Herman have been brewing in recent months following their breakup, largely related to Herman’s right to live in Woods’ home.
According to court documents, Woods ended the relationship on Oct. 13, 2022. Thirteen days later, Herman filed a separate complaint against the Jupiter Island Irrevocable Homestead Trust, which Woods set up in February 2017 and owns his primary property in Hobe Sound. In short, the October complaint alleges that Herman lived at Woods’ house for six years as part of an oral tenancy agreement between the two and that approximately five years remained on it.
Herman’s complaint states the oral tenancy agreement “gave the plaintiff the right to live in the residence for a certain duration of time,” and that “the duties that were performed by, and expected of, [her] were extensive and of an extraordinary nature in light of the overall circumstances and environment in which she lived.”
According to the filings, Woods himself responded by commencing arbitration against Herman. According to documents filed by the trust in December, Woods’ arbitration request argues “there is no oral tenancy agreement entitling Ms. Herman to occupy the residence.”
