Shutdown Corner - NFL

One of the two most-asked questions about the ongoing Ben Roethlisberger(notes) situation is why the accuser didn't ever file a criminal complaint against Roethlisberger, opting instead for a civil suit.

Here's the answer from the Associated Press, on the ABC News website, which was found via a (likely accidental) link on ESPN.com:

The woman's lawsuit says she didn't file a criminal complaint because she feared Harrah's would side with Roethlisberger and she would be fired. The suit doesn't say whether the woman is still working for Harrah's.

So there's that, for the great many people out there who like to play amateur lawyer and/or presume to know exactly what went on in that room that night. The question does have an answer. You may choose to not find it plausible or believable, but there is an answer on record.

In other Roethlisberger news, Roger Goodell acknowledged yesterday that the lawsuit is "something that [the NFL] obviously will look into". I think that leaves ESPN and Steelers.com as the only news outlets on the planet not reporting the story.

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  1. simon w
    1. Posted by simon w Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:35 am EDT

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    could be like that OJ thing where for a criminal case there can't be any doubt of guilt in the jury's mind wheras in a civil suit the judge can just go with what he thinks likely happened. Also could be because this woman is a greedy attention seeker who wants cash but isn't bothered about whether big ben goes to jail or not. My guess would be he's innocent.
  2. simon w
    2. Posted by simon w Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:37 am EDT

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    think about it logically: you're a multi-superbowl winning quarterback with millions of dollars do you really think you have to force women to sleep with you?
  3. Rachel R
    3. Posted by Rachel R Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:37 am EDT

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    Big Ben.... he is a great quarterback. the woman should of filed a complaint if it happened when it happened nothing should of stopped her if it happened. Not fear of losing a job. If she lost her job and it happened well then i guess there could of been more than one suit filed??
  4. Devon Da Phenom
    4. Posted by Devon Da Phenom Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:48 am EDT

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    With every superbowl win...this guy is in the offseason news for something negative....i love other teams distractions...f the steel
  5. daddy primetime
    5. Posted by daddy primetime Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:51 am EDT

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    simon w hit the nail on the head. this lady prob lost her job and was thinking of a way to cash in, then came up with this crazy story. i just cant see Ben doing anything like this, i dont think its true, and i hope they can prove it isnt.
  6. VIC
    6. Posted by VIC Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:58 am EDT

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    Bet she lost her job and now she needs money. She shch a lier i saw on the new she wants like 3 million or something like that.
  7. Nick
    7. Posted by Nick Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:58 am EDT

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    We all know ESPNs standards are weak, but, wow, this is a new low, even for them.
  8. Joey
    8. Posted by Joey Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:58 am EDT

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    I want to punch her in the face!!
  9. Steve
    9. Posted by Steve Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:00 am EDT

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    that is such BS come on its obvious she just wants money because if he had done that then she would have filed a criminal complaint and dont give me that job bull [profane] she wanted to get paid and i guarantee this thing will get settled out of court
  10. Cristina
    10. Posted by Cristina Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:01 am EDT

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    It is all about money.... I don't believe it at all ...
    $$$$$$ is all they can see..
  11. skinsrboss/gigi
    11. Posted by skinsrboss/gigi Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:04 am EDT

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    It doesn't matter how much money Ben has if he is prone to being a sexual predator. These guys brains don't work like most men, it's a power thing for them. It's really easy for men to make comments like this but trust me, if you were a woman, you may look at it differently. I will wait for more facts before I decide who is telling the truth.
  12. boot l
    12. Posted by boot l Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:07 am EDT

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    he should of told the girl his name was ron mexico
  13. pensfan1982
    13. Posted by pensfan1982 Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:10 am EDT

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    She is in on a scheme with a Vegas bookie to ruin the Steelers season in order to cash out. Still bet on the Steel Curtain because Ben will come out shooting and go 12-1 then get to sit out for half of the rest of the season and then breeze through the playoffs for number 7. I predict an AFC Championship win over the Patriots 24-21.
  14. edward r
    14. Posted by edward r Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:19 am EDT

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    I dont believe it,if they had sex its because she wanted it.being a ex law enforment officer is sounnds like a false report.too many lawyers with nothing to due just looking for a quick buck.
  15. JeffreyS
    15. Posted by JeffreyS Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:20 am EDT

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    First of all not all women want to sleep with a football player and most would have standards. But still I do not believe for a min that he did this. I think it is all about money. Money is what society wants and in the down turn of things, what better time to try to get it. I doubt she will win as he will not roll over as long as he did not do it. If he rolls then shane on him and I feel sorry for his Mom and family for the embarrassement I am sure he will have caused.
  16. chip
    16. Posted by chip Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:22 am EDT

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    ITS $$$$$TIME! bEN JUST PL;AY FOOT-BALL AND LET YOUR LAYWERS do their job!!1[ this comes along w/ the big$$$ golddiggers see it as an opportunity it must have been o.k if they had sex because she worried about Birth-control!!! I don't think that would be the 1st thing on my mind if it was a rape!!! [just trying to get in Bens head right before the 2009 season starts!!! GO PLAY BEN YOU WILL OVERCOME
    ]
  17. Irish Bastard
    17. Posted by Irish Bastard Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:26 am EDT

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    You people do know that this is the same lady who sued another casino for defamation (sp) of charter. it was all so reported that this isnt the 1st time she sued someone or another casino.
  18. Bling
    18. Posted by Bling Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:31 am EDT

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    Do not pay her to make this go away!!!!!! You can thank Kobe for this scheme. Fight this to the end.
  19. LeeF
    19. Posted by LeeF Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:39 am EDT

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    she didn't file a criminal report because the police would have to investigate her to see if the accusations were true. The police would have more access to her information. In a civil case I doubt that Ben's legal team can dig as deep into her personal life to determine her state of mind. In a legal case I am pretty sure they can get much more information, but I am not totally sure about that.
    If you read the report, she "washed up" in his room afterwards before leaving. What rape victim is going to take the time to wash up afterwards? She likely wanted more from it than he did and when he didn't respond to her when he was out there for this years gold tournament she likely flipped out and filed a suit.
  20. screet420
    20. Posted by screet420 Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:50 am EDT

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    Come on, she waits a year to report this. Total BS. I'm just surprised she didnt say this crap when the Super Bowl was going on. And whats with the other 9 defendents. After this is all said and done, Big Ben should sue her for defamation of character.SOunds real fishy to me. She should have done more research and picked another player to go after. She obviously doesnt know about Ben's upbringing. It's well known that he is very religious and doubt he would ever do something like this, besides he has 2 Super Bowl rings and tons of $$$$$$$. He doesnt need to force himself on anyone. This smells like another Kobe Bryant case.
  21. jon
    21. Posted by jon Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:05 am EDT

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    If there are any skeletons in her closet they will come out ... just another case of being rich & famous and having someone take advantage of you. Really there was no matainance worked to be found so she being a mechanically incline casino host decided to fix the problem with the sourround sound herself? Possibly an excuse to get to the room to put her plan into place? Just a thought ...
  22. eric p
    22. Posted by eric p Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am EDT

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    A good friend of my mine lives near his hometown in Ohio. From the stories I've heard, he wouldn't have done something like this. But then again, people do change. See how the evidence plays out.
  23. h3billyj
    23. Posted by h3billyj Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:08 am EDT

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    The key difference in the Kobe case is the the woman did go to police right away, this smells fishy but it also smells like this woman did have some interaction with Ben. Whether he did sexually assault her remains to be seen, odds are she is fairly hot as most VIP Concierges at Casinos are very attractive. How far was she willing to go to please a VIP with thought in the back of her mind that she may profit handsomely from it. Some key facts to look at here:
    1) Is there any security video of her entering his room at the time in question?
    2) Does she have a history of meeting celebrities and bedding them down?
    3) Does Ben have a history of assaulting women (certainly none have been publicized to date)?
    4) If there is video evidence that may lead credence to her story?
    5) If there WAS video did the Casino delete/scrub it clean to protect Ben and their reputation?
    If any of these issues come to the surface then maybe something did happen, I tend to believe Ben did not and that she is a golddigger/manipulator just looking for money. But in her defense Ben has a huge ego (2 super bowl wins in firast 5 years in league would do it) and just maybe, where there is smoke there is fire, something happend here but exactly what happened we may never know.
  24. h3billyj
    24. Posted by h3billyj Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:09 am EDT

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    The key difference in the Kobe case is the the woman did go to police right away, this smells fishy but it also smells like this woman did have some interaction with Ben. Whether he did sexually assault her remains to be seen, odds are she is fairly hot as most VIP Concierges at Casinos are very attractive. How far was she willing to go to please a VIP with thought in the back of her mind that she may profit handsomely from it. Some key facts to look at here:
    1) Is there any security video of her entering his room at the time in question?
    2) Does she have a history of meeting celebrities and bedding them down?
    3) Does Ben have a history of assaulting women (certainly none have been publicized to date)?
    4) If there is video evidence that may lead credence to her story?
    5) If there WAS video did the Casino delete/scrub it clean to protect Ben and their reputation?
    If any of these issues come to the surface then maybe something did happen, I tend to believe Ben did not and that she is a golddigger/manipulator just looking for money. But in her defense Ben has a huge ego (2 super bowl wins in firast 5 years in league would do it) and just maybe, where there is smoke there is fire, something happend here but exactly what happened we may never know.

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