New York Knicks point guard Derrick Rose will be a part of a civil trial that will begin in a couple of weeks. So far, we don’t know the name of the woman who is going after Rose, but it appears that will soon change.
A U.S. District judge ruled Tuesday that the woman, who alleges that Rose and two of his friends had sex with her while she was incapacitated back in 2013, can no longer go by Jane Doe. The judge also said he will not close the courtroom from media so her identity is protected.
https://twitter.com/WerlySportsLaw/status/778334069868392448
The 30-year-old woman had gone to great lengths to keep her identity anonymous. She didn’t even tell her family about her decision to sue Rose in 2015 and the current case, where this woman is asking for $21.5 million from Rose.
The legal team for Rose’s accuser claimed that releasing her identity would cause further harassment. Rose’s side, meanwhile, argued for her name being released by citing recent interviews the woman has done.
The judge said the law is very clear when it comes to this issue. After the Michael W. Fitzgerald, the judge presiding on this case, ruled she cannot remain anonymous, things quickly got testy.
Soon after Fitzgerald ruled on the issue of the woman’s identity, Rose’s attorney, Mark Baute, revealed the woman’s name and was warned by the judge that she would remain anonymous until trial. He had her name struck from the record.
When Baute said her name a second time, Fitzgerald issued a stern rebuke and threatened to sanction him $1,000.
“Do not test my patience,” Fitzgerald said.
The trial begins in two weeks in Los Angeles. It is likely that Rose will miss preseason activities with the Knicks while the trial is going on.
[AP]
