A US judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the rape of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo in Las Vegas.
The Manchester United star paid a woman $375,000 in hidden money after she claimed he raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.
The lawsuit seeks a higher payout, possibly in the millions of dollars, but US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey ruled the case out of court on Friday because of the way the documents were collected.
The judge said in her 42-page order that dismissing a case outright with no option to file it back was a severe punishment, but Ronaldo was harmed by the conduct of his lawyer. women, Leslie Mark Stovall.
Judge Dorsey explained that Mr. Stovall had used “misappropriated documents” that had been “woven into” the plaintiff’s case, meaning it had to be dismissed forever.
In her ruling, she wrote: “I find that the procurement and continued use of these materials is not in good faith, and that disqualifying Stovall simply will not cure prejudice against Ronaldo. because the documents were appropriated and their secret contents were woven into the very fabric of[the plaintiff’s]request.
“The harsh sanctions are deserved,” the ruling added.
In a statement released in October 2018, Ronaldo said: “I firmly deny the allegations against me. Rape is a heinous crime that goes against all that I am and trust”.
His legal team has stated that the sexual encounter was consensual and that a confidentiality agreement prevented both his team and the woman from talking about it.
The woman’s legal team can appeal the decision.
