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Dr. Dre has accused a family psychiatrist of malpractice, and he's got the receipts to prove his claims.
According to a letter TMZ obtained on Thursday, October 10, Dr. Dre's attorney Howard King accused Dr. Charles Sophy of malpractice and breach of confidentiality last year after he brought the allegations to the Osteopathic Medical Board of California. King claimed Dr. Sophy allegedly "slandered" Dre "in a malicious effort to convince his son to turn against him." The tactic was an alleged ploy to force Dre to pay a financial settlement to his ex-wife Nicole Young, which Sophy recommended while he worked as their marriage counselor during their brutal divorce.
"[Sophy] was terminated when it was revealed that he was encouraging one of their children to take sides against Mr. Young, even encouraging his son to go to the press with false allegations in order to force a financial settlement that he recommended," King said in a statement. "Dr. Sophy has consistently rebuffed Medical Board attempts to investigate these claims, but has now filed this desperate suit while the noose of the Medical Board is tightening."
In text messages TMZ provided, Dre, born Andre Young, accused Dr. Sophy of malfeasance after he worked as the couple's marriage counselor and then turned into their primary therapist during the divorce, which he claimed was a "breach of conduct." He also accused Sophy of inserting himself into his divorce proceedings to convince him to agree with Nicole's terms. Not only did Sophy treat the couple, but he also treated their children as well. Dre claimed Sophy tried to get the producer's son to go to the press with "false allegations," which essentially destroyed Dre's relationship with his son.
Dre's attorney filed a confidential complaint with the medical board last year and requested Dr. Sophy's license be revoked. Earlier this week, Dr. Charles Sophy responded by filing a $10 million harassment lawsuit against Dre for allegedly threatening him several times since the divorce was finalized. Dr. Sophy denied Dre's allegations and claimed he was falsely accused of ruining the artist's relationship with his son. He also claimed Dre allegedly sent people to his home as a warning. The doctor described an incident when men disguised as FBI agents gained access to his gated community and threatened his safety.
"All mental health professionals work with individuals and families at their most vulnerable and emotionally challenging times of their lives," Dr. Charles Sophy's attorney, Christopher Frost told TMZ. "However, threatening and harassing someone as a means to express one’s emotions is an unacceptable behavior that the world at large cannot tolerate. Unfortunately, Mr. Young’s recent conduct since the filing of the complaint only perpetuates his chosen consistent pattern of behavior. This dispute is about his consistent pattern of negative and abusive behavior and nothing else."
Dr. Sophy is suing for $10 million and is requesting a restraining order to keep Dre at least 100 yard away from him.