Mark SchlabachESPN Senior Writer2:42 PM ET2 Minute Read
Tiger Woods’ longtime girlfriend is asking a judge to remove her from a non-disclosure agreement she alleges the 15-time major champion forced her to sign when their relationship began in August 2017, according to court documents obtained by ESPN emerges.
According to a civil lawsuit filed Monday in the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit in Martin County, Fla., Erica Herman believes the NDA is “invalid and unenforceable” and that a trust controlled by Woods wrongfully used it against her used.
Herman’s attorney relies on a federal law, the Speak Out Act, which prevents enforcement of non-disclosure agreements in cases of sexual assault and harassment. In a civilian cover sheet to the court, Herman’s attorney, Benjamin Hodas, pointed out that the case involved allegations of sexual abuse.
Herman made no specific allegations against Woods.
Hodas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from ESPN on Wednesday. Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“This uncertainty is acute and important,” Herman’s complaint reads. “Due to the defendant’s aggressive use of Woods’ NDA against her and the trust under his control, the plaintiff is uncertain as to her ability to disclose, among other things, facts leading to various legal claims she believes she has.” She is also currently unsure of what other information about her own life she can discuss with whom. There is therefore an active dispute between the plaintiff and the defendant, for which the plaintiff needs a clarifying statement from the court.”
Woods, 47, is skipping players at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. this week. He returned after a hiatus of more than seven months when he made his debut at Genesis at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles in 2023. Herman, 38, was not seen with him at the tournament.
Herman’s attorney alleged that Woods was attempting to use the non-disclosure agreement to force Herman to keep details of their relationship private. If the judge rules that the NDA is enforceable, Herman’s attorney asked the judge to clarify how she limits her ability to disclose, among other things, “her own experiences,” “experiences of her family members,” “photographs and recordings of her and her family members.” ‘, ‘information obtained from sources other than Defendant’ and ‘information responding to statements made or published by Defendant about itself or others to establish the inaccuracy or misrepresentation of those statements’.