Stacie Orrico Lawsuit: Abuse Claims, Defendants, and 2026 Filing

Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico filed a lawsuit on January 6, 2026 in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that her former manager, Britt Ham, sexually abused her beginning when she was 14 years old, and that Universal Music Group, ForeFront Records, and several related entities failed to protect her and enabled the abuse by granting Ham unsupervised access to her as a minor.¹²

What Orrico Says Happened

Orrico signed with ForeFront Records at 13 and was managed by Ham through Rocketown Management LLC.³ The complaint alleges Ham first abused her in October 2000, when she was 14 and in Los Angeles promoting her debut album Genuine. According to the suit, Ham directed her to his hotel room, told her to lie on his bed, then kissed her and touched her over her clothes and between her legs, telling her the contact was “not a sin because he loved her.”⁴

A second incident allegedly occurred in July 2001, when Orrico was 15 and in Los Angeles for rehearsals. The complaint states Ham directed her to his room at the Sofitel Hotel, where he kissed her, touched her genitals, and rubbed his body against hers until he ejaculated.⁴ The suit alleges Ham and Orrico eventually had sex in 2003, when she was 17.²

The complaint characterizes Ham’s conduct as grooming. It alleges he positioned himself as Orrico’s “spiritual adviser,” gave her daily Bible study assignments, and used their shared faith to build trust and demand secrecy, impressing on her “the importance of secrecy and the need to act Christian and wholesome in public.”³ Orrico fired Ham as her manager in March 2004, when she was 18.⁵

What the Labels Are Accused Of

The suit’s institutional claims are as central as its allegations against Ham. The complaint alleges that ForeFront executives presented Ham to Orrico and her family as a “trusted member of the ForeFront family and broader Christian music industry family,” which gave her parents the impression he was sanctioned and supervised by the label. That framing, the suit contends, is what allowed Ham unsupervised access to a teenager during tours, hotel stays, and promotional travel.³

The complaint specifically alleges that Eddie DeGarmo, the ForeFront executive who helped discover Orrico at a 1998 singing competition, told her in 2002 he was aware of her “inappropriate relationship” with Ham and that other ForeFront employees had reported similar concerns to him. Rather than intervening or reporting to authorities, DeGarmo allegedly blamed Orrico and warned her the relationship could jeopardize her career.⁶⁵ The suit also alleges that a person hired to serve as Orrico’s companion raised concerns about her relationship with Ham to the label and was fired for doing so.⁷

When rumors of the relationship became public, the complaint says, the industry response was not to treat Orrico as a child victim but to blame her for failing to maintain “Christian values” and effectively push her out of the business.⁸ Orrico left ForeFront Records in 2007.²

Defendants and Causes of Action

The complaint names Ham personally, now a Dallas resident, along with Rocketown Management LLC and Britt Huston Entertainment LLC, identified as the successor to Rocketown around 2002. It also names EMI Christian Music Group, Inc.; Forefront Communications Group, Inc.; Electric & Musical Industries Limited; Virgin Records America; Capitol Christian Music Group; and Universal Music Group. UMG is sued as the successor to EMI and ForeFront under theories of alter ego, successor liability, and agency, since UMG acquired EMI’s assets and ForeFront now operates as a division of Capitol Christian Music Group, a UMG subsidiary. The complaint also names Does 5 through 30.⁶

The causes of action include negligence, negligent supervision, negligent failure to warn or train, sexual battery, childhood sexual abuse, gender violence, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, along with a claim for punitive damages. Orrico is seeking unspecified financial damages and a jury trial.¹⁸

Why a 2026 Filing Is Possible for Conduct in 2000

The alleged abuse occurred between 2000 and 2003. Two California statutes make a 2026 filing viable. The California Child Victims Act (AB 218), signed in 2019 and effective January 1, 2020, extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims to 22 years after the survivor turns 18, or within five years of discovering the psychological injury.⁹

AB 250, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2025 and effective January 1, 2026, opened a new two-year revival window for previously time-barred sexual assault claims that involve allegations of a cover-up by a defendant or entity. That window runs through December 31, 2027 and applies to claims against private defendants.⁹ Orrico’s suit was filed on January 6, 2026, the first week AB 250 was in effect, and its cover-up allegations against the labels align with the statute’s requirements.³

Orrico’s Statement and Current Status

Orrico released a statement through her attorneys at Stritmatter Law: “The music industry failed to protect me when I was a little girl. It has taken me years to become strong enough — but I am ready to fight for every young and innocent person who has been, and continues to be, abused in the music industry and in the Church.”⁷

Ham could not be reached for comment by multiple news outlets after the filing, and a Universal Music Group spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.¹ No public responses from any named defendant have been reported. The case remains pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court, with no reported hearings, motions, or settlement discussions as of mid-2026.¹⁰

1
People. Stacie Orrico Files Childhood Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against Former Manager
2
Billboard. 2000s Teen Christian Singer Stacie Orrico Sex Abuse Lawsuit
3
Bishop Accountability. Christian Singer Stacie Orrico Sues Former Manager Alleging Sexual Abuse
4
Church Leaders. Christian Singer Stacie Orrico Alleges She Was Sexually Abused at 14
5
Christian Post. Stacie Orrico Sues Former Manager for Alleged Sexual Assault
6
Church Leaders. Orrico Complaint
7
CBN. Christian Singer Stacie Orrico Files Lawsuit Against Record Label Alleging
8
Stritmatter Law. Former Child Pop Star Stacie Orrico Sues Christian Music Industry for Sexual Assault
9
California State Legislature. AB 250 (Aguiar-Curry) SJUD Analysis
10
Marin Independent Journal. Stacie Orrico Sues Manager, Label: Sexual Abuse