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12-06-2004, 11:01 PM
Bryant's attorneys ask judge to keep NBA star's sexual history off limits during deposition
By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer
December 6, 2004
DENVER (AP) -- Kobe Bryant's attorneys asked a judge Monday to make sure the NBA star doesn't have to answer questions about other ``consensual relationships'' as he defends himself against a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape.
Bryant had promised to be available Monday or Tuesday to answer, for the first time, questions under oath about what happened at a mountain resort last year.
However, in a filing released Monday in federal court, Bryant's lawyers said both sides couldn't agree on the kinds of questions the Los Angeles Lakers star would be asked.
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They said planned questions about Bryant's history of ``consensual sexual relationships with anyone other than the plaintiff'' have ``no possible relevance'' to the woman's claims. They asked a judge to bar such questions.
``On December 1, plaintiff's counsel suggested that he was entitled to learn the name of each woman with whom Mr. Bryant has ever had a sexual encounter, even if Mr. Bryant testified under oath that the sexual encounter was consensual,'' Bryant's lawyers wrote in the filing.
They also said the deposition should be delayed until the woman decides whether to move her suit to California, so he would only have to be questioned once. The defense wants Bryant to be able to give his deposition in California, where he lives.
Bryant attorney Pamela Mackey did not return a call seeking comment. John Clune, an attorney for the woman, declined comment.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for pain, scorn and ridicule the woman says she has suffered since her encounter with Bryant at the Vail-area resort where she worked in June 2003. Bryant's attorneys say the woman was an ``eager, willing participant.''
Prosecutors dropped a sexual assault charge against Bryant on Sept. 1 after the woman said she no longer wanted to participate in the criminal case following a series of courthouse gaffes that released details about her on the Internet.
No trial date has been set in the civil case.
By COLLEEN SLEVIN, Associated Press Writer
December 6, 2004
DENVER (AP) -- Kobe Bryant's attorneys asked a judge Monday to make sure the NBA star doesn't have to answer questions about other ``consensual relationships'' as he defends himself against a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape.
Bryant had promised to be available Monday or Tuesday to answer, for the first time, questions under oath about what happened at a mountain resort last year.
However, in a filing released Monday in federal court, Bryant's lawyers said both sides couldn't agree on the kinds of questions the Los Angeles Lakers star would be asked.
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They said planned questions about Bryant's history of ``consensual sexual relationships with anyone other than the plaintiff'' have ``no possible relevance'' to the woman's claims. They asked a judge to bar such questions.
``On December 1, plaintiff's counsel suggested that he was entitled to learn the name of each woman with whom Mr. Bryant has ever had a sexual encounter, even if Mr. Bryant testified under oath that the sexual encounter was consensual,'' Bryant's lawyers wrote in the filing.
They also said the deposition should be delayed until the woman decides whether to move her suit to California, so he would only have to be questioned once. The defense wants Bryant to be able to give his deposition in California, where he lives.
Bryant attorney Pamela Mackey did not return a call seeking comment. John Clune, an attorney for the woman, declined comment.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages for pain, scorn and ridicule the woman says she has suffered since her encounter with Bryant at the Vail-area resort where she worked in June 2003. Bryant's attorneys say the woman was an ``eager, willing participant.''
Prosecutors dropped a sexual assault charge against Bryant on Sept. 1 after the woman said she no longer wanted to participate in the criminal case following a series of courthouse gaffes that released details about her on the Internet.
No trial date has been set in the civil case.