Motion to dismiss Big Ben lawsuit denied
September 30, 2009
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP)—A Nevada judge denied motions by lawyers forPittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger(notes) to dismiss a civil lawsuitalleging he raped a Lake Tahoe casino worker, according to court documentsreleased Wednesday.
Washoe District Judge Brent Adams rejected arguments that the suit should bedismissed, saying the woman’s allegations make a “sufficient” claim that ifproven, would entitle her to relief.
“The court recognizes that a motion to dismiss is only proper where itappears beyond doubt that the plaintiff could prove no set of facts which, iftrue, would entitle them to relief,” Adams wrote in the order filed lateTuesday.
Adams also refused to strike the woman’s complaint, finding that as written,it is not “unnecessarily salacious or graphic,” as argued by Roethlisberger’slawyers.
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In other brief orders, the judge also rejected arguments that the suitshould be dismissed because it failed to name an “indispensable party”—thatbeing Harrah’s Hotel-Casino—and denied Roethlisberger’s request to expeditediscovery, or the sharing of evidence.
Roethlisberger’s lawyer David Cornwell said that despite the outcome, histeam was encouraged by the judge’s reasoning.
“Finding that plaintiff survived this round because of a generous ‘beyonddoubt’ standard indicates that, at these early stages, the court is inclined togive plaintiff her day in court,” Cornwell said in a written statement. “Ofcourse, this cuts both ways.
“In any event, her allegations remain false and we remain committed to avigorous defense.”
Cal Dunlap, the woman’s lawyer, has repeatedly declined comment on courtfilings and did so on Wednesday. The Associated Press, as a matter of policy,does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted.
The woman, a 31-year-old VIP hostess at Harrah’s, filed a civil suit inJuly, alleging Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her while he was at Lake Tahoethe previous summer to compete in a celebrity golf tournament. The suit claimedshe was hospitalized for several months because she was traumatized after thealleged attack.
The woman’s suit seeks a minimum $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger,unspecified punitive damages and at least $50,000 in damages from eight Harrah’sofficials she accuses of orchestrating a cover-up of the incident.
In a separate order, the judge dismissed a claim of trespass against formerHarrah’s employee Stacy Dingman, identified in the woman’s suit as once beingher best friend.
Adams said a more definitive statement is needed for the woman to pursueconspiracy allegations against Dingman, but he left intact other claims ofintentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, defamationand punitive damages.
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