Lawyers: Others partially to blame for Bryant accuser's pain

Lawyers: Others partially to blame for Bryant accuser's pain

"s_knight8"	12/23/2004 10:45:01 AM
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/22/sports2204E ST0172.DTL Attorneys for Kobe Bryant asked a federal judge Wednesday to uphold their arguments that other sources were at least partially responsible for emotional injuries allegedly suffered by the woman accusing the NBA star of rape. In court documents, Bryant's attorneys argued Colorado law allows them to name other people or entities that may be responsible -- even if the sources didn't intend to hurt the woman or if those sources are immune from liability. Earlier this month, the woman's attorneys asked the judge to remove Bryant's arguments from the civil case, saying the Lakers' star was trying to shift responsibility to the media, courts and other outside sources. Defense attorneys also argued Wednesday the woman's attempt to refute such claims was premature, because neither Bryant nor the woman have given sworn testimony in the case. The woman's lawsuit filed in August seeks unspecified money damages from Bryant for the alleged pain and emotional injuries she suffered since her encounter with Bryant at a Vail-area hotel in June 2003. Bryant has said the two had consensual sex. L. Lin Wood, one of the woman's attorneys based in Atlanta, called the filing "nonsensical, legal mumbo-jumbo" and said blaming the media and other sources was ludicrous. "This is nothing more than an effort by Kobe Bryant to shift responsibility to others for the consequences of his unlawful conduct in that hotel room," Wood said by phone Wednesday. In November, Bryant's attorneys filed court documents arguing the woman's alleged emotional injuries could have been caused by media organizations that published information about the case, including The Associated Press. Responsibility also could extend to people who threatened the woman and to the state courts, which mistakenly released her name and details about her personal life during the criminal case, Bryant's attorneys argued. The lawsuit was filed three weeks before the criminal sexual assault charge against Bryant was dropped in September. The woman had told prosecutors she no longer wanted to participate.



"Alex"	12/28/2004 3:03:55 PM
"s_knight8" <s_knight8nospam@hotmail.com> schreef in bericht news:cqep5t$b5a@dispatch.concentric.net... http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/12/22/sports2204E ST0172.DTL Bryant has said the two had consensual sex. L. Lin Wood, one of the woman's attorneys based in Atlanta, called the filing "nonsensical, legal mumbo-jumbo" and said blaming the media and other sources was ludicrous. "This is nothing more than an effort by Kobe Bryant to shift responsibility to others for the consequences of his unlawful conduct in that hotel room," Wood said by phone Wednesday. What "unlawful conduct"? Talk about legalese mumbo jumbo. Seems like Wood will have to look for new meal ticket other than Kobe Bryant. Alex

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