Saratoga Springs, NY — A woman who had accused Mike Tyson, the former heavyweight boxing champion, of raping her in a limousine back in 1991 has decided to withdraw her lawsuit, according to a recent court filing. The legal documents submitted to U.S. District Court revealed that the plaintiff’s decision was communicated to Tyson’s lawyer, Daniel Rubin, by her legal representative.
The case dismissal was confirmed in a letter dated March 7, addressed to Judge Mitchell Katz, highlighting the plaintiff’s intention to voluntarily discontinue the lawsuit. The announcement marks a significant turn in a case that had drawn considerable public attention.
In response to the dismissal, the woman’s legal team expressed their frustration through a statement released on Tuesday. They voiced their disappointment over the case’s conclusion, which they attributed to procedural issues rather than the merits of the case itself. Attorney Darren Seilback stated, “We are extremely disappointed that the court did not allow us to amend the pleadings in the case. It’s a shame our client’s case had to be dismissed on procedural grounds. We stand by our client’s account of the events and support her 100%.”
The lawsuit was initially filed in January 2023 under the New York State Adult Survivors Act, which allows victims of sexual assaults to file lawsuits against perpetrators even if the incidents happened decades ago. This act opened a one-year window for such claims to be made, providing an avenue for justice for many who had believed their time had lapsed.
In her lawsuit, the woman recounted meeting Tyson at a nightclub in Albany. She then alleged that Tyson raped her in a limousine, an assault that she claimed led to years of “physical, psychological and emotional injuries.” Tyson, who had become the undisputed heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990, has consistently denied these allegations.
This is not the first time Tyson has faced allegations of this nature; he was convicted of rape in a separate incident in 1992 and served three years in prison. Such incidents have left a lasting impact on Tyson’s public image and career.
The retraction of this lawsuit doesn’t erase the legal precedents and broader discussions about accountability and justice facilitated by the Adult Survivors Act. It underscores the complexities and challenges victims face when confronting alleged aggressors through the legal system.
The discontinuation of this particular case also opens up dialogues around the procedural aspects of legal suits and the potential hurdles that can prevent them from being fully adjudicated.
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