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| Bryant leaves the Eagle County Justice Center
for a lunch break in a pretrial hearing in Eagle, Colo., July 19,
2004. (Reuters) |
Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kobe Bryant and
the woman who accused him of sexual assault in a criminal case that tarnished
his
reputation and threatened his career have agreed to settle a civil lawsuit
arising from the now-dropped charges, ABC reported on Tuesday.
Lawyers for Bryant and the woman had no immediate comment on the
report. Bryant had been scheduled to give a deposition in the woman's
civil suit against him in a Denver Federal District Court last Friday but
it was canceled amid speculation that the case was near settlement.
ABC News quoted sources as saying that Bryant and his accuser have
agreed to a settlement for emotional and other injuries she said she
sustained in connection with the case. ABC said details of the settlement
were still being worked out and could be reached by the end of the week.
The woman worked at a posh
Colorado resort where Bryant stayed in June 2003. Bryant admitted having
sex with her but he insisted it was consensual
. She said she had been raped and criminal charges were brought
against Bryant.
The Eagle, Colorado sexual assault case against Bryant was dropped last
September at the woman's request after she said she would not testify and
instead would institute a civil lawsuit against him for damages.
Her decision came as jury selection was to begin and after the court
had mistakenly posted her name and sealed documents containing personal
information about her on the Internet.
Bryant issued an apology to the woman, saying that while he believed
the sex had been consensual, "I recognize now that she did not and does
not view this incident the same way I did."
(Agencies) | 
Updated: 2005-03-02 10:35