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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Something fishy with Roethlisberger suit

As you've probably heard by now, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been served with a civil suit in Nevada for sexual assault by an employee of Harrah's Casino.

The whole thing sounds a little fishy.

First, there were no criminal charges issued in the alleged event.

And then there's the trouble with when the alleged event – whatever it may be – happened, July 2008.

Roethlisberger has been known to mess around with women. Heck, he's young, rich and famous.

But this seems like an attempt at a money grab.

42 comments:

  1. One of the commentors on PFT (so obviously take it for what its worth) said Ben is infamous for his behavior towards women in Pittsburgh.

    I live in Philly and have a plenty of friends in nightclubs, bars, etc. and I've heard many stories of local athletes not being the type of guy you bring home to mom.

    But even taken those stories as true, that does not mean Ben, or any of these athletes, would force themselves upon a women as is being described. Someone else said Bettis had a similar suit once and it was trash.

    Ben seems smarter than that and I hope none of it is true. I personally have no tolerance for that kind of behavior - even just degarding words at a Bar, but especially what is being alleged.

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  2. As I said, he's young, rich, famous and single.

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  3. Anonymous1:46 AM

    I think you need 9 of 12 jurors to win a civil suit. They're much easier to win than criminal cases.

    And successful civil cases only take money from the guilty and give it to the wronged. There's no other punishment or jail time, I think.

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  4. Anonymous3:14 AM

    I don't buy this for a second. Why wait a year before filing a lawsuit? Why no criminal charges? Does she have any evidence?

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  5. Any evidence would be purely circumstantial at this point unless she went to the doctor immediately following the alleged event. And if she did that, why no criminal charges?
    As I understand it, she's saying he forced himself on her after he called the front desk for help with his TV and she was the one sent to his room.
    Sorry, I'm not buying it.

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  6. Anonymous9:42 AM

    She is probably just hoping for a settlement.

    Anyone have a picture of this chick? If she isn't hot the judge should dismiss the case, due to a lack of motive.

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  7. Anonymous10:11 AM

    Maybe she meant Kobe and not Ben

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  8. She is fishing, that being said, Big Ben needs to be more careful in the future (see Kobe & Magic). Back to news, any progress on Ziggy signing now we are approaching training camp?

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  9. Hood will be done in time.

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  10. Anonymous2:28 PM

    Dale, any chance that you have obtained a copy of the actual complaint?

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  11. Anonymous4:20 PM

    Ben will probably pay off the woman to drop the suit. Just another womanizing thug from Yinzer Nation.

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  12. Here is a pic of the woman...

    http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/andrea_mcnulty#47438

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  13. adamg4:35 PM

    The world's oldest profession is legal in Las Vegas. BR would have had no trouble finding a high quality escort for any time and any day he desired.

    This lawsuit sounds very similar to the one against Bettis a few years ago.

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  14. Viz-Burgh4:37 PM

    The Post Gazette has a PDF of the Complaint:

    http://www.post-gazette.com/downloads/20090721_roethlisberger.pdf

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  15. Anonymous7:25 PM

    That suit is just like bad television. I have never heard of that type of "Conspiracy" crap ever happening unless i see it on TV. It seems too far fetch. I wouldnt cover something up like that if i have known Ben my whole life let alone just being a huge fan or chum. Scan the Las Vegas episodes, I bet you find one just like it.

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  16. Having seen the photo, I don't doubt he could have walked outside and found somebody more attractive. Heck, he could have walked into the hallway.

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  17. there's a lot to find suspicious in this story but to suggest that he wouldn't force himself on her because she's not a stunner is pretty awful. can we not act like football fans for a bit?

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  18. Viz-Burgh8:54 PM

    I agree with Kyle. If she's there & "assigned" to his room, she's readily available. Any port in a storm.

    Not saying he's guilty or innocent - that's a determination far from being made - but to think he wouldn't do it because she's not a 10 is foolish.

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  19. Agreed with Kyle and Viz burgh

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  20. Rape is more of an issue of power, not sex. It really doesn't matter how attractive or unattractive she is. That he could easily find a more attractive girl is also irrelevant.

    I don't think Ben is guilty of anything here. I think, at worst, he had a consensual one-night stand and didn't treat her very nicely. I think she felt angry and ashamed and decided she wanted to try squeeze some money out of the $100 million quarterback. I don't think her case holds any water, and the fact that she's gone straight to a civil suit rather than pressing criminal charges is pretty suspect.

    That said, I think we've got to come to terms with the knowledge that our franchise QB might not be that great of a guy. As polished as he is when he speaks on TV, when the camera's off, he's a different guy. He isn't a hero, and I know a lot of people wanted to believe he was.

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  21. Anonymous1:35 AM

    Actually she looks like his type. In fact, she kinda resembles him. That's weird.

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  22. Anonymous11:01 AM

    Does sound very fishy. From what is public now, don't think Ben sexually assaulted her. But the idea that a woman couldn't be raped because she's not attractive enough is pretty disgusting. The other thing that comes to mind is that, yes, women are capable of a money grab but, on the other hand, I'm sure a powerful man getting away with rape has been far, far, far more common than a man being unjustly accused of it. (Unrelated to this case, of course, as I don't think Ben did it. Just, like, over the course of history...)

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  23. Anonymous12:31 PM

    After looking at the picture of Andrea McNulty, if this is even partially true, does Ben have Bill Clinton Syndrome. Seriously, I would have to choose Monica Lewinski over her. Heck, I've spent more than a night hugging the porcelin throne after too much to drink....and I think most of them looked better than her.

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  24. All I'm saying is that this happened in Nevada, where prostitution is legal. He's also the buddy of the hotel owner and could have had somebody sent to the room for the sole purpose of, well, you know.
    But we're supposed to believe this guy who was on the verge of signing a $100 million contract was so horny - he had just finished a date with another woman who spent 20 minutes alone with him in his room - that this woman walked in and he had to have her so much that he forced himself on her?
    Sorry, I'm not buying that.
    The only two people who truly know what happened in that room are the ones that were in the room.
    Any physical evidence one way or another is long gone.
    To me it looks like buyer's remorse.

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  25. adamg2:17 PM

    Of course there are cameras all over the LV casinos, so she could have some video evidence of at least coming and going to room at the time and date her complaint alleges.

    But, I've read that subsequent to this encounter Ms McNulty had another affair which caused her to have to seek psychological help.

    I suspect that this lawsuit is to pay for the costs associated with that. She and her lawyer probably think BR will settle rather than have this be a distraction during training camp and the season.

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  26. Dale,
    Prostitution is legal in many countries and rape still takes place in those countries. Being on the verge of signing a contract doesn't make someone less likely to assault someone else. Other people on the internet are using "arrogant athletes think they can do whatever they want" as a reason to call him guilty, you can't use it as a reason to call him innocent.

    As you said though, there is no real evidence. I would be shocked if he were found in the wrong.

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  27. Kyle
    I'm just saying that the guy knew that he was about to sign a very lucrative contract - it had been in the works all that offseason. Why would he risk that for some instant gratification?
    It's just another piece of this whole thing that doesn't add up, much like the prostitution thing.
    Again, if he needed to have sex so bad, he could have had a girl/girls in his room in half an hour.

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  28. Anonymous4:39 PM

    ben makes bad choices period. i have no sympathy for someone in his position who randomly has sex with strangers. sooner or later your going run into a psycho. he has everything in the world going for him and he chooses to ride a motorcycle with no helmet and have sex with strangers . . . . bad decisons result in bad consequences. consequences that can destroy a career.

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  29. Viz-Burgh4:55 PM

    Gotta disagree with Dale. We repeatedly see guys in the NFL make the dumbest decisions possible when it would seem clear that they shouldn't. You really think if Ben's horny that he's stopping to think of a contract extension??

    Instant gratification has caused the ruin of a lot of careers. For examples, look at former Falcons FS Eugene Robinson. The morning before the SB he received the Bart Starr Award from the Christian based group Athletes in Action. That very night he got busted trying to get "serviced" by an undercover female officer. You don't think he'd be thinking, "I just got this award for my morality & tomorrow is my chance to win another ring?" Wouldn't that keep him from doing that? OF COURSE NOT! Because these guys don't think they'll get caught. They think they're bigger than most people & above most authority. And they mostly think that because they've been treated that way their whole lives due to their skills on the field.

    I'm not saying Ben raped this girl. Far from it. I'm not saying that Ben in particular thinks he can do whatever he wants & get away with it. I'm saying that many, many athletes, especially after they've retired & come back to earth a bit, have been treated that way.

    But to say that a pending contract extension would stop Ben from acting on animal instincts is highly unrealistic. Easy to say & logical in retrospect, but in the "heat of the moment" how many of us really are thinking logically?

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  30. Anonymous5:00 PM

    Haha! You have no sympathy for almost every 26 year old single man that can actually pull some. This is what every single man is trying to do when they go to a bar or casino or the park even...have sex with a stranger. why should a celeb be held to any different standard. lol thats just funny. if he was married it would be a totally different story but he is not. he can have relations with as many girl as he wants that is the only thing you have a a single man, freedom. I know many non-celebs men and women run into quite a few psychos dont even think for a second they are reserved for celebs lol.

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  31. Anonymous5:21 PM

    I think his point is not that celebs are held to a higher standard. The point is that when you are a celeb, you are much more vulnerable to fake rape cases. You are an idiot if you take some random girl up to your room for some jolly rogering, without knowing who she is. Even then, you're still vulnerable. And let's all not forget one thing, we don't even know if Ben even had sex with this girl.

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  32. With all due respect... A man forcing himself on a woman who is saying "No!" is not, nor should it be considered a young man getting his jollies. It is not the type of behavior that falls under the category of "hmm let me think before I do this" rather it is the symptom of an individual who has some deeply rooted psychological problems.

    That being said... If, as previously mentioned, Ben is, shall we say a bit crass with the ladies, he would do well to heed the warning "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." The only thing in my mind worse than a rapist is a false victim. It makes things that much more difficult for the real victims!

    BTW thanks for the hard work Dale. This blog is terrific!

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  33. Anonymous2:27 AM

    Personally, I doubt that Ben did this, and yes, I'm biased.

    That said, Lolley's "being in Nevada" defense is weak. Dante Stallworth just signed a big deal, yet chose to fill himself full of booze and not call a cab, instead running over someone.

    The last thing one can use in these circumstances is logic, especially when it comes to the rich and famous.

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  34. adamg6:30 AM

    The alleged victims's lawyer says he had "no idea" there would be so much media interest. Oh brother, does he think anyone will believe that? Media interest is exactly the point to pressure BR into settling regardless of his guilt or innocence.
    I think this statement supports the idea the lawsuit is all about money and not about justice being served.

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  35. Hmm, so now we learn the alleged victim is a Canadian citizen. Canada has national health care and there is no charge for medical, and I'm going to say also psychological, care.

    So if the alleged victim didn't want to report the incident to US authorities, why didn't she report it to Canadian authorities? And why didn't she return to her hometown in Canada to seek medical treatment if she couldn't afford it here or had no insurance?

    Curiouser and curiouser

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  36. kelly2:32 PM

    Yeah, you’d think after a traumatic experience she’d want to get home to be around family and friends… maybe no one likes her there either.

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  37. I do have to say I love how so many people can throw ben under the bus when a random accusation comes out against him. Plus most people are attacking Dale...when he does all this work for US!

    I have said it before and will say it again...if you want to attack Dale, Ben, or anyone else grow some balls and at least log on instead of using the Anonymous BS.

    BTW...Ben obviously said it was false...I think it is safe to say she wanted money and money and that is all. If you look at she won't file a civil suit cause she KNOWS she is lying!

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  38. I think Tomlin being there and this being a Steelers sponsored Press Conference is a telling sign.

    There's little doubt in my mind that the Steelers didn't say "Ben tell us everything" then consult with their own attorneys before throwing their support behind him and having their name be all over the Press Conference. This is a proud organization and if there was doubt in their mind about what Ben told them, then I think the Press Conference would have looked more like the Kobe one which was more about Kobe. This one was about Ben and his focus on the Steelers.

    I like that the team and Ben are united on this and I think it is a sign that Ben and his lawyer, David Cornwell (who was almost NFLPA Head), have a strong case.

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  39. adamg5:59 PM

    I'll bet my house Coach T gave BR a lecture the likes of which he's probably never heard. I'd say Ben's on a real short leash right about now.

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  40. Anonymous6:30 PM

    Oh please.

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  41. I would bet Ben hasn't gotten that lecture yet. It isn't the time for it and Tomlin probably realizes Ben has bigger issues to deal with. Tomlin is a masterful personnel guy. He'll let Ben know he screwed up at some point -- remind him not to be 'that guy', but it won't be anytime soon. His goal is to have his QB ready for camp and for the season, and brow-beating him into guilt isn't going to further that cause.

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  42. cajunyankee12:13 PM

    I cannot believe some of what I've read. Is Ben beyond making mistakes? NO. Is he capable of making poor decisions that could ruin his life? Yes. Is rape about sex,or power, or violence. ALL THREE. The part of the Brain that controls sexual issues also controls violent issues. Each person must decide on their own what they believe. For me I believe in Ben. I know he has a gentle and kind spirit by his actions and relations outside football and with the fans. I know he was raised a Christain and after entering the League then reprimanded by the league for protraying a "PFJ" (playing for jesus) emblem he continued to wear it but covered up. Before some of ya'll get stupid with the comments being christain does not mean perfect but forgiven and while christains do wrong things at times I cannot believe some-one who defends his faith so much would defy it in the worst way. He is young,rich,famous...horny and single and while he may not have stayed sexually pure I cannot believe he did it in a violent fashion. This woman filed no crimmal claim. This woman waited a year to file a civil claim. What prompted her to do it now? I've read she got upset when the Hotel Management staff ask her to take a brief "leave" when Ben returned this year. If she was a victim why would she "Want" to be there anyway. She's hurt and vindictive and motivated by the promise of big money.
    Cajun-

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