Kobe Bryant, Accuser Agree to Settle Civil Lawsuit
ABC News Learns that NBA Star and Woman Who Accused Him of Rape Have Reached Agreement on Emotional and Other Injuries
Mar. 1, 2005 - Kobe Bryant and the woman who accused him of sexual assault have agreed in principle to settle the civil lawsuit she filed against the NBA star, ABC News has learned.
Sources told ABC news that Bryant and his accuser have agreed to a settlement for emotional and other injuries she said she sustained in connection with the alleged rape. Sources say the parties are meeting this week to work out the details of the settlement, which could be signed by both parties by the end of the week.
Bryant's attorneys and lawyers representing the woman began making progress on the settlement last Friday. The Los Angeles Lakers' guard had been scheduled to give a deposition in the case, but it was postponed.
The accuser was employed at a Vail, Colo., resort where Bryant stayed in June 2003. Bryant admitted having sex with the woman, but he insisted it was consensual.
Eagle County prosecutors dropped the sexual assault charge against Bryant last September, just as jury selection was beginning for a criminal trial.
Prosecutors said they dropped the criminal case because the alleged victim decided she would not testify. She said she could not continue with the criminal case after the court mistakenly posted her name and sealed documents containing personal information -- including defense allegations about her sex life and medical history -- on its Web site. It was the third time the court had accidentally published sealed documents.
After the criminal charges were dropped, Bryant maintained his belief that their encounter was consensual but also issued an apology where he said, "I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."
ABC News' Ellen Davis contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures
ABC News Learns that NBA Star and Woman Who Accused Him of Rape Have Reached Agreement on Emotional and Other Injuries
Mar. 1, 2005 - Kobe Bryant and the woman who accused him of sexual assault have agreed in principle to settle the civil lawsuit she filed against the NBA star, ABC News has learned.
Sources told ABC news that Bryant and his accuser have agreed to a settlement for emotional and other injuries she said she sustained in connection with the alleged rape. Sources say the parties are meeting this week to work out the details of the settlement, which could be signed by both parties by the end of the week.
Bryant's attorneys and lawyers representing the woman began making progress on the settlement last Friday. The Los Angeles Lakers' guard had been scheduled to give a deposition in the case, but it was postponed.
The accuser was employed at a Vail, Colo., resort where Bryant stayed in June 2003. Bryant admitted having sex with the woman, but he insisted it was consensual.
Eagle County prosecutors dropped the sexual assault charge against Bryant last September, just as jury selection was beginning for a criminal trial.
Prosecutors said they dropped the criminal case because the alleged victim decided she would not testify. She said she could not continue with the criminal case after the court mistakenly posted her name and sealed documents containing personal information -- including defense allegations about her sex life and medical history -- on its Web site. It was the third time the court had accidentally published sealed documents.
After the criminal charges were dropped, Bryant maintained his belief that their encounter was consensual but also issued an apology where he said, "I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."
ABC News' Ellen Davis contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures