ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-RONALDO-US-PORTUGAL-RAPE
Ronaldo served with papers in US rape lawsuit
LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has
been served with court papers related to a rape lawsuit in the United States,
according to documents filed by his lawyers on Friday.
Five-time world player of the year Ronaldo is accused of rape by Kathryn
Mayorga, who claims the Portuguese soccer star assaulted her in a Las Vegas
hotel in 2009.
Ronaldo, 34, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player, has
strongly denied the accusations against him, insisting their encounter was
consensual.
The legal process in the civil case had been held up as “federal court’s
rules on serving foreigners” meant an identical state-level case needed to be
dropped, Mayorga’s attorney said last week.
A motion filed in federal court in Nevada on Friday said “the parties have
agreed to deem Defendant effectively served,” meaning Ronaldo has officially
received court documents in the case, allowing it to move forward.
Former model Mayorga made the accusations against Ronaldo, who now lives in
Turin, in a complaint filed last year.
She said that while she had agreed to a financial settlement with Ronaldo
shortly after the alleged incident, her emotional trauma at the time did not
allow her to participate in the mediation process.
Mayorga’s attorney added that the model agreed to an out-of-court
settlement to keep her name from going public, but was inspired to speak out
by the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.
Ronaldo’s lawyers have said that the non-disclosure agreement signed with
Mayorga was “by no means a confession of guilt”.
Following her renewed accusations, Las Vegas police reopened an
investigation last year.
Ronaldo is widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the history
of the game, having won the Champions League title five times — once with
Manchester United and four times with Real Madrid.
He also led Portugal to the Euro 2016 title in France.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0925 hrs