Riverdance Star Suing Woman Over False Rape Charge
Jim Kouri, CPP
July 30, 2006
Former "Riverdance" star Michael Flatley won an Illinois State Supreme Court ruling that he is allowed to sue a woman who falsely claimed he raped her in Las Vegas.
The court's decision, which was promulgated on Thursday, was that Flatley's $100 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against Tyna Marie Robertson can proceed to trial.
According to court papers, the 48-year old dancer received a letter from Robertson's attorney D. Dean Mauro in January 2003 alleging that Flatley had raped Robertson the previous year in a Las Vegas hotel, where Flatley was appearing in a show.
Court papers state that Mauro threatened in the letter, and later during phone calls, that he would file a sexual assault lawsuit unless Flatley agreed to a "seven figures settlement." Police declined to press criminal charges and Flatley said the sex was consensual.
Robertson then filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Illinois for $33 million, but it was dismissed by the court. Flatley counter-sued with a lawsuit claiming extortion, fraud and defamation.
Lawyers for Robertson and Mauro said Flatley's suit should be thrown out, arguing that the letter was a settlement offer and was protected under the First Amendment.
The Illinois Supreme Court rejected the argument, writing, "Mauro's communications constituted criminal extortion as a matter of law and, as such, were unprotected by constitutional guarantees of free speech or petition."
The court's decision, which was promulgated on Thursday, was that Flatley's $100 million extortion and defamation lawsuit against Tyna Marie Robertson can proceed to trial.
According to court papers, the 48-year old dancer received a letter from Robertson's attorney D. Dean Mauro in January 2003 alleging that Flatley had raped Robertson the previous year in a Las Vegas hotel, where Flatley was appearing in a show.
Court papers state that Mauro threatened in the letter, and later during phone calls, that he would file a sexual assault lawsuit unless Flatley agreed to a "seven figures settlement." Police declined to press criminal charges and Flatley said the sex was consensual.
Robertson then filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Illinois for $33 million, but it was dismissed by the court. Flatley counter-sued with a lawsuit claiming extortion, fraud and defamation.
Lawyers for Robertson and Mauro said Flatley's suit should be thrown out, arguing that the letter was a settlement offer and was protected under the First Amendment.
The Illinois Supreme Court rejected the argument, writing, "Mauro's communications constituted criminal extortion as a matter of law and, as such, were unprotected by constitutional guarantees of free speech or petition."
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