In a lawsuit filed last Tuesday, four female housekeepers accused the singer-songwriter of sexual battery including rape, plus false imprisonment and a number of labour violations.

In a statement to the BBC, Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost called the allegations "vile" and "false".

"As this case progresses, the evidence (the crucial element that guides us) will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon - $50 million, to be exact," he said.

Robinson was Motown's first hitmaker, writing number one hits like Mary Wells' My Guy and the Temptations' My Girl.

He was both a talent scout for the record label and one of its most prominent recording artists in his own right, known for songs like Tracks of My Tears, Shop Around and Tears of a Clown.

He has spots in both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Halls of Fame, and claims to have credits on more than 4,000 songs.

His second wife, Frances, was also named in last Tuesday's lawsuit, which claimed she contributed to a hostile work environment and failed to stop Robinson's alleged sexual misconduct.

The women are suing under the pseudonyms Jane Doe 1, 2, 3 and 4, due to the sexual misconduct allegations, including rape, being levelled against the musician.

In the 27-page lawsuit they detail several incidents dating back to 2006 and allege they were pressured into sex.

All four women, who are of Hispanic descent, said they had not come forward until now because they feared losing their livelihood, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some were concerned the allegations could affect their immigration status.

They are seeking at least $50million in damages and a jury trial.

No police reports or criminal charges have been filed against the musician.

The women's lawyers held a press conference last Tuesday, accusing Robinson of being a "serial and sick rapist" who "must be stopped".

This drew the ire of the Robinson's legal team, who called it a "bizarre" attempt "to enlist the public as an unwitting participant in the media circus they are trying to create". (BBC/ Getty Images)