Settlements
Michael Flatley Awarded $11M for False Rape Accusation
Posted Dec 11, 2007, 10:20 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
“Lord of the Dance” star Michael Flatley has been awarded an $11 million default judgment against a woman for falsely accusing him of rape.
Flatley’s lawyer, Ricardo Cestero told KNBC.com that a Los Angeles judge awarded the amount in the dancer’s lawsuit against Tyna Marie Robertson, an exotic dancer-turned-real estate agent. Flatley maintained that a sexual encounter with the woman at a Las Vegas hotel was consensual.
Robertson had initially sued Flatley, but her suit was dismissed. Flatley in turn filed his own suit against Robertson and her lawyer, D. Dean Mauro, claiming extortion, fraud and defamation. The suit alleged that before Robertson filed her suit, Mauro threatened to make the rape allegations public unless Flatley paid Robertson at least $1 million.
Mauro countersued Flatley claiming his extortion lawsuit violated California’s anti-SLAPP law. The California Supreme Court ruled for Flatley last year (decision posted by California Anti-SLAPP Project), saying that Mauro’s communications constituted criminal extortion and the statute does not apply.
Flatley settled with Mauro in August, the KNBC.om story says.
Mauro had argued his request for $1 million was a prelitigation settlement offer protected by his right of petition and speech. The Chicago Sun-Times identified him as a lawyer in Waukegan, Ill., but Cestero told KNBC.com he no longer practices law.
The Illinois Registration and Disciplinary Commission recommended a one-year suspension for Mauro for the incident. A dissenter argued for disbarment.
A hat tip to Blogonaut, which posted the story.
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