Two ex-Boston Celtics players have settled a lawsuit brought by a woman who says she was raped in November 1997 at the home of forward Antoine Walker.
Ron Mercer and Chauncey Billups agreed to pay the woman an undisclosed sum, the Boston Herald reported today. But a third man who was accused, Walker's housemate Michael Irvin, has not settled because he has no money, his attorney, Willie Davis, said. Walker, who did not participate in the alleged assault but is accused of walking through a bedroom while it took place, also is named in the lawsuit. He has refused to pay. U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns has granted a motion to dismiss the case, but did not enter final judgment. A lower court has ruled that Walker had no duty to stop the alleged assault, but that ruling was overturned in federal court last year. Walker has filed a counter-complaint against Mercer and Billups, but those records have been sealed.
The woman said she was raped by Billups, Mercer and Irvin in a bedroom of Walker's Waltham home after meeting the players at a comedy club. She also said Walker entered the bedroom during the assault, but declined Irvin's invitation to have sex with the woman. No criminal charges were filed.