DENVER -- The 20-year-old accuser in the Kobe Bryant case filed a civil suit Tuesday seeking an unspecified amount in monetary damages from the basketball star, saying that he has a "history of committing similar violent sexual assault on females."

The civil suit, labeled "Jane Doe vs. Bryant," was filed Tuesday in federal court in Denver, the court assigned to Judge Richard Matsch.

The suit claimed the Los Angeles Lakers star raped the woman after she went up to his room when he was staying at the Vail-area resort where she was working. The claim that she was raped while bent over a chair matches the criminal charge against him.

The civil court filing says:

On June 30, 2003, at approximately 10 p.m., Defendant Bryant registered as a guest at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera, a resort hotel located in Eagle, Colo. The Plaintiff was employed as a front desk clerk at the Cordillera Lodge and Spa.
After his check-in at the Cordillera Lodge and Spa on June 30, 2003, Defendant Bryant, out of the hearing range of his agents and bodyguards, asked Plaintiff to come to his room to escort him on a private tour of the resort hotel and its facilities.
Plaintiff agreed to Defendant Bryant's request and during the tour of the hotel, Defendant Bryant flirted with Plaintiff and she was flattered by his comments and interest in her.
After taking Defendant Bryant on an approximate 15-minute tour of the hotel facilities, Defendant Bryant asked Plaintiff to escort him back to his room.
After she entered his hotel room, Defendant Bryant asked Plaintiff to join him in his jacuzzi but Plaintiff declined his offer, informing him that she needed to clock out of work.
After Plaintiff declined Defendant Bryant's offer to join him in his jacuzzi, Plaintiff attempted to leave the hotel room and Defendant Bryant blocked her exit from the room, asking her for a hug.
Plaintiff hugged Defendant Bryant and he then began to kiss her lips and neck.
After a short period of time kissing her, Defendant Bryant's voice became deeper and his acts became rougher as he started touching Plaintiff's breasts and groping her in her genital region and buttocks.
When Defendant Bryant began touching Plaintiff's breasts and groping her in her genital region and buttocks, Plaintiff immediately asked him to stop and informed him that she needed to leave the hotel room.
Defendant Bryant refused to allow Plaintiff to leave the room and stood between her and the room door.
Defendant thereafter physically restrained Plaintiff with force and violence against her will by choking her with his hands around her neck while bending her over a chair in the hotel room.
Defendant Bryant pulled his pants down and lifted Plaintiff's skirt, pulling down Plaintiff's panties while continuing to restrain Plaintiff by physical force and a perceived threat of potential strangulation if she resisted his advances.
With (sic) she was bent over the chair and forced by Defendant Bryant to remain in that position, Defendant Bryant sexually assaulted and raped Plaintiff, by unlawfully and knowingly inflicting sexual intrusion and penetration of her vagina against her will and without her consent in violation of the laws of the State of Colorado, including in violation of C.R.S. 18-3-402(1)(a) and 4(a).

The lawsuit claims that Bryant "has a history of attempting to commit similar acts of violent sexual assault on females he has just met and has thereby established a pattern and practice of such unlawful acts."

The civil complaint said as result of alleged assault, the woman "has suffered stress, emotional distress and mental pain and suffering and adverse physical consequences."

She has also "been subjected to public scorn, hatred, and ridicule and has suffered threats against her life and physical safety," and "has incurred special damages, including medical and legal expenses" the suit said.

"The sexual assault and rape perpetrated by Defendant Bryant upon Plaintiff was an intentional, criminal act," the suit said.

The accuser is seeking punitive damages against Bryant to "punish (him) for his actions and to deter (him) from repeating his criminal conduct."

The woman's attorney, John Clune, said she demands a trial by jury, special damages and compensatory damages in excess of $75,000, and the cost of her attorney's fees and expenses of the civil action.

Jury selection for Bryant's criminal trial begins Aug. 27. He has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault.

A criminal case requires a higher standard of proof to convict, and punishment can involve prison time. A civil case has a lower standard of proof, and punishment is usually a monetary award.

If convicted, he faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.

"It seems like this is the latest move in the accuser's exit strategy from the criminal case. The chance that the criminal trial will go forward has become more remote," said 7NEWS Legal Analyst Craig Silverman. "The criminal case will not be helpful if the goal is to obtain money from Kobe Bryant. Let's say the criminal case goes forward. If he is acquitted, then he will have very little incentive to settle the case because the humiliating facts will have already been exposed and he will probably win the civil case too. If somehow Kobe Bryant is convicted, his $137 million Lakers contract goes away, he will probably be incarcerated and he may go broke faster than you can say 'Mike Tyson.'"

"It's a terrible time to file this if there is actually going to be a criminal trial. It provides further ammunition for team Kobe's contention that her primary motivation is money," Silverman added. "It's also an interesting way to get around the court's gag order. They have put forth the accuser's version of events and thrown in the cheap shot that Kobe Bryant is some kind of serial sex offender."

The question has arisen why her attorneys filed the civil case in U.S. District Court in Denver.

"The alternative is to file in District Court in Eagle, where Terry Ruckriegle is the presiding judge, or they could have filed the case in Los Angeles, where Bryant is the local presiding hero," Silverman said.

Read Official Civil Court Filing

Previous Stories:

• August 9, 2004: Accuser's Attorneys Blast Bryant Judge
• August 6, 2004: Bryant Accuser Tries To Rebound From Rulings, Gaffes
• August 5, 2004: Gag Order Expands After Bryant Accuser's Lawyers Speak Out
• August 4, 2004: Kobe Bryant's Accuser May Drop Criminal Case
• August 3, 2004: Transcripts: Prosecution Feared Evidence Rulings Favoring Kobe
• July 30, 2004: Judge Apologizes For Court Mistakes
• July 29, 2004: Defense: Accuser Received $17K From Victims' Compensation Fund
• July 28, 2004: Kobe Bryant Court Battle Heats Up Following Latest Mistaken Release
• July 27, 2004: Judge May Release Edited Bryant Transcripts
• July 26, 2004: Prosecutors Still Pursuing Bryant Trial Despite Big Setback
• July 26, 2004: Media Pushing To Overturn Judge's Order Barring Bryant Transcripts
• July 25, 2004: Bryant Trial Judge's Review Panel Includes DA
• July 23, 2004: Judge Will Allow Bryant Accuser's Sexual History At Trial
• July 22, 2004: Media Asks U.S. Supreme Court To Block Ruling Bryant Case
• July 19, 2004: Attorney: Online Postings Puts Bryant Accuser In Danger
• July 19, 2004: Supreme Court: Media Can't Publish Bryant Transcripts
• July 16, 2004: Bryant Jury Summonses Mailed, Man Who Made Threat Sentenced
• July 13, 2004: Bryant Accuser's Attorney Cautions Judge On Sexual-History Decision
• July 9, 2004: Bryant Attorneys Don't Want Cameras In Court
• July 8, 2004: Media Urges Courts To OK Publication Of Bryant Transcripts
• July 7, 2004: Source: Nuggets GM Meets With Kobe Bryant
• July 2, 2004: Judge: Releasing Transcripts Would Jeopardize Bryant Trial
• July 1, 2004: Eagle DA To Remain On Sidelines During Kobe Trial
• June 29, 2004: Colorado Supreme Court Asks Bryant Judge To Explain Himself
• June 26, 2004: Bryant To Go To Trial Aug. 27
• June 22, 2004: Bryant Hearing Ends With No Trial Date Set
• June 21, 2004: Kobe Hearing: What Is Consent?
• June 17, 2004: Under New Rule, Jurors Can Question Bryant Witnesses
• June 1, 2004: Judge: Accuser Cannot Be Called 'Victim' At Bryant Trial
• Archive of stories

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