NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger accused of sex assault in lawsuit

[ManxMouse]

Knowing all this, how do we know that she didn't take it to the police & they declined to prosecute? & she thought that her only option was to sue him?

I read that there was never any criminal complaint. If she'd taken it to police, there would at least be a police report.

t13nif, a similar thing happened to me, where my friends all continued being friends with the guy and it was really hard on me. I'd go out and have to wonder if his ass would be there yukking it up with my friends. These people were and are such great friends in every other way, it's just such a weird deal. I think people just don't know how to react, so they do the wrong thing. And of course, some people just are ignorant asses who don't care to get involved. So I really sympathize.

And for what it's worth, I never went to the police either....it was such an almost-date rape kind of thing where I was drunk so it just wasn't going to happen, and no physical evidence. But it would never have occurred to me to sue the guy.

[Kittylady]

I wouldn't go so far as to call it rape in my case, but yeah, lots of people I was friends with are still friends with my psycho-ex, go out for a beer, share a joke and a few good times with him. I let the friendships slide after that. I figured that it would be better for me to be out of a circle where persistant and sustained domestic abuse could be overlooked if the perp was a fun guy to hang with sometimes.

Back OT: As for why the woman in this case didn't report it at the time - well, all victims react differently. Some take it to the police and try and get the legal ball rolling straight away, others withdraw into themselves with shock and shame, maybe even denying to themselves that it happened for a long time afterwards as they simply can't cope with it. Non of us know how we would handle such a horrendous ordeal as being raped unless we experience it as our everyday logical side can tell us that we'd do one thing when its all just hypothetical but reality can often be very, very different. If these allegations are true then it could be that the woman bringing this case falls into the latter catagory, and was in denial about it in the immediate aftermath.

[Ravensweetie]

Big Ben -- Decision Coming in Sex Assault Case

Posted Apr 9th 2010 7:15AM by TMZ Staff
Ben Roethlisberger will finally learn if he will be criminally charged for allegedly sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman -- the Ocmulgee District Attorney will make the formal announcement on Monday.

D.A. Fred Bright claims the "investigation, interviews and report" in the Roethlisberger case have been completed and reviewed -- and they will announce their "decision in this case" at a press conference on Monday.

As TMZ first reported, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is accused of sexually assaulting the woman in a nightclub bathroom in Georgia.

It's unclear which way the D.A. is leaning -- but in the past, Roethlisberger usually emerges victorious on Mondays.

Read more: Celebrity Gossip | Entertainment News | Celebrity News | TMZ.com

[MrsDark]

He'll get off. Just my prediction.

[SHELLEE]

I'd like to believe that his time has finally come. Third times a charm.

[cmmdee]

My guess is they will say: "Roethlisberger and the lady in question have reached an out-of-court agreement" - translation: $

[kingcap72]

My guess is they will say: "Roethlisberger and the lady in question have reached an out-of-court agreement" - translation: $

Yup.

[LynnieD]

Yea, I'm on board w/the $$ settlement too. You know that's how its going to go down.

[TheONe]

He just needs to smarten up

[Ravensweetie]

ESPN
Updated: April 9, 2010, 7:02 PM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will not be charged after an investigation into accusations of sexual assault by a 20-year-old woman in Georgia, sources told ESPN.

Sources confirmed to ESPN's Kelly Naqi that District Attorney Fred Bright will announce on Monday that charges will not be brought against Roethlisberger.

Bright said in a statement Friday he has reviewed all the investigation reports and will hold a news conference at 2 p.m. ET Monday.

Milledgeville police Chief Woodrow Blue said Wednesday his department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had wrapped up their investigation into a 20-year-old college student's claim that the two-time Super Bowl champion sexually assaulted her early March 5 at a club in Milledgeville.

Sources: Ben Roethlisberger will not be charged - ESPN

[Ravensweetie]

Roethlisb

Ben Roethlisberger offered apologies to the Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans Monday night after finding out charges would not be filed following a sexual assault accusation in Milledgeville, Ga.

"I am truly sorry for the disappointment and negative attention this has brought to my family, my team and the NFL," Roethlisberger said in a short statement inside the Steelers' locker room.

"I understand the opportunity I've been blessed with is a privilege and much is expected of me as the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers."

Roethlisberger

Roethlisberger did not take questions after his statement.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell still plans to meet privately with Roethlisberger, said league spokesman Greg Aiello. The meeting will happen in New York on Tuesday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Roethlisberger will be accompanied by his attorney, David Cornwell, and his agent, Ryan Tollner.

Ocmulgee Circuit District Attorney Fred Bright said Monday that after exhaustive interviews and inconclusive medical exams, a 20-year-old student's accusations against Roethlisberger could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. He also revealed the young accuser no longer wanted him to prosecute.

Bright said he continued to investigate the case, but ultimately decided against moving forward partly because he was never able to find out what happened behind the bathroom door at the Capital City club.

"Here the overall circumstances do not lead to a viable prosecution. If they did, I would be pursuing it vigorously," Bright said. "We do not prosecute morals. We prosecute crimes."

Bright detailed the night during a lengthy news conference Monday.

Roethlisberger, who was out drinking with friends to celebrate his 28th birthday, bumped into the student and her sorority sisters throughout the night. They linked up at Capital City, where he invited them to a VIP section and bought them a round of shots.

As the night wore on, the student walked down a dingy hallway to a small bathroom, and Roethlisberger soon followed. What happened next remained unclear even after a month long investigation.

The student told police she had been sexually assaulted, but the medical results were less clear. A doctor who examined her at a nearby emergency room discovered a cut, bruises and vaginal bleeding but could not say if she was raped. And while some DNA was found, there was not enough to determine whom it belonged to, Bright said.

Roethlisberger said he doesn't plan to discuss what happened the night of March 5, and he said he's happy to put it behind him.

"I'm committed to improving and showing everyone my true values," Roethlisberger said. "I'm excited to get back to work with my teammates and I'm more determined than ever to have a great season.

"I intend to make my family, friend and Steeler Nation proud on all fronts."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger sorry to NFL for disappointment - ESPN

[Brookie]

Predictable.

[sluce]

Big surprise that the victim asked them to not file charges because she felt the media scrutiny would be too hard on her but she refuses to say it did not happen. Sounds like they reached a deal alright. Another victory for assault victims...

[cmmdee]

Cha-ching

[Ravensweetie]

Lawyer Claims He Knows Of Yet Another Ben Roethlisberger Accusation

A Boston attorney claimed on WEEI sports radio today that he knows of another case involving Ben Roethlisberger, a Las Vegas night club, and "identical" allegations to the ones he was just cleared of in Georgia. So this isn't over?
Harry Manion, a managing partner at the firm of Cooley Manion Jones, was invited on the Dennis & Callahan show to discuss Roethlisbeger's current legal situation and he began with the disclosure that six months ago, he was retained by a client to investigate accusations that were "absolutely identical to this Georgia girl's story." He says the woman did not want to proceed and the case was dropped before action was taken. But other than this vague unverifiable claim, he's not talking! (You can listen to the whole interview here.)
According to Manion, these allegations that Manion just brought up, unprompted, suggest a pattern of recklessness that will damage Big Ben's reputation. He told the media that he will not comment further, but the incident he's commenting on allegedly took place in public space and involved non-consensual "sexual touching." Manion said once he explained to the alleged victim that her privacy would destroyed by all-consuming media, she decided not to pursue it. Thankfully, no one will be interested finding out who she is now.
So basically, a high profile defense attorney just went on the radio hours before Ben Roethlisberger was to meet with the NFL commissioner and accused the quarterback of being a serial groper with no regard for the well-being of himself or any drunk woman aged 19-26. And if that wasn't bad enough, Big Ben's Beef Jerky no longer wants its jerked meat products to be associated with him. It's been a busy week.


Lawyer Claims He Knows Of Yet Another Ben Roethlisberger Accusation - Ben Roethlisberger - Deadspin