An allegation against Cristiano Ronaldo relating to an incident at the Palms Casino has re-opened his case.
A woman from Las Vegas who alleges Cristiano Ronaldo raped her at his Palms Casino penthouse in 2009 is attempting to reopen her civil lawsuit against the soccer icon.
Kathryn Mayorga is hoping a U.S. appeals court will reconsider her case against the soccer star, which was filed in 2018 and later dismissed by a Nevada judge last year.
A panel of three judges is set to hear arguments from both parties on Wednesday during a special hearing in Las Vegas.
In the original case, hacktivist group "Football Leaks" published confidential documents online. They reportedly contained evidence that seemed to suggest Ronaldo admitted the sexual encounter was not consensual. Ronaldo's legal team dismissed these claims, arguing the files were stolen and manipulated by hackers.
Ronaldo has maintained his innocence, insisting the encounter was consensual. The Las Vegas police came close to charging the footballer in 2019 and even sought an arrest warrant. However, the case was eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence.
'Bad Faith'
Judge Jennifer Dorsey dismissed the lawsuit because she believed Mayorga's attorney, Leslie Stoval, relied heavily on privileged conversations between Ronaldo and his lawyer, which should not have been presented as public evidence.
Dorsey concluded Mayorga's lawsuit in 2022, criticizing Stoval's actions as "bad faith" by utilizing the questionable Football Leaks documents, which she deemed a "blatant disregard for the proper litigation process." Attorneys and their clients are required to maintain confidentiality.
Mayorga initially requested the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) for assistance after being sexually assaulted. Court records and the DA's statement confirm she reported the incident on June 13, 2009.
A subsequent medical examination identified physical injuries potentially resulting from rectal rape, including rectal swelling, bruises, and a laceration. Despite this, she withheld the identity of her alleged attacker due to her fear of public embarrassment and retaliation.
Coercion Allegations
By 2010, Mayorga had signed a nondisclosure agreement that allowed her to drop all claims against Ronaldo for a $375K settlement. Ronaldo's legal team has emphasized the agreement did not signify guilt on his part.
Mayorga now argues she was manipulated into signing the agreement by Ronaldo's team of legal advisors and PR specialists, who pressureed her at a time when she was particularly vulnerable.
The leak of the Football Leaks documents, which coincided with the rise of the #MeToo movement, led Mayorga to file the suit, claiming battery, emotional distress, coercion, fraud, and the exploitation of a defenseless individual.
Mayorga's appeal contends the lower court erred in rejecting her efforts to unseal the 2009 nondisclosure agreement and use it as evidence. Nevertheless, the Football Leaks documents cannot be used as evidence because their authenticity cannot be established.
