Rape accuser sues football star Jameis Winston in Florida court

[Novara]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - College football star quarterback Jameis Winston, a contender for the top pick in the upcoming National Football League draft, was sued on Thursday in Florida court by a woman who says he raped her in 2012.

The lawsuit, which seeks financial damages, comes at a time of increased scrutiny of the NFL's handling of allegations of rape and domestic violence by its players.

Winston, 21, did not face criminal charges in the alleged rape and was cleared of any conduct code violations as a student at Florida State University, but the incident continues to draw wide media attention. He has said the sexual encounter was consensual.

The woman, Erica Kinsman, filed the lawsuit in a state court in Orlando, in part seeking to force Winston to answer questions under oath about what happened, said her attorney, John Clune.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/17/us-usa-football-winston-idUSKBN0N72Q320150417

[Ilsa]

1. Good. Make him testify, even if

there is no financial payoff.

[Earthly Creature]

2. I'll try to be first posting news of the verdict nt

[niyad]

4. welcome to du

[niyad]

3. apparently civil court is the only way to get to some of these players.

[Novara]

5. When crimes are not investigated properly....

....and victims are ignored or discredited, a civil case is the only option. On the plus side, he'll have to testify.

[Earthly Creature]

6. How would a victory for Winston affect your opinion?

If at all.

[Novara]

7. It isn't a matter of opinion that the investigation was severely deficient

They waited almost a year before a formal investigation was initiated. If she loses this case you can still point to that. However, the burden of proof is lower in a civil case.

[Earthly Creature]

10. Tallahassee police was on the case 3 hours after the incident

They scheduled an interview with her a month later, which she didn't even attend. Is it because she had said that she was hit in the back of the bag and the nurse couldn't corroborate that? http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/timeline-when-did-rape-allegations-against-jameis-winston-get-filed/2154277

[cosmicone]

11. There will be no victory for Winston

They have the semen sample from the rape kit. Winston's roommate witnessed the attack.

Winston will be smart to settle this out of court or he will pay a very heavy price.

[Darb]

13. I don't think that you know the whole story.

I won't get into it but it isn't quite as cut and dried as you state.

Not exactly sure what occurred that night.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

14. That means nothing if it REALLY was consensual.

Not saying it was.

[cosmicone]

15. If the woman says it was rape ....

Why would any woman who willingly gave herself to Jameis would say immediately after the encounter that it was rape, go to a hospital and have a rape kit taken?

It is disgusting that some people would take the side of jocks here!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

16. I'm not taking sides.

But there have been people in the past that lied about this kind of thing to get $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

If you can't acknowledge that, then there is no reason to continue. What's disgusting is you implying I'm taking the side of a jock. I said, regarding it being consensual, "Not saying it was". I don't know the truth. Neither do you.

[cosmicone]

19. Oh brother

Accused's lawyer is a hired gun and will say anything to get his client off. That is his/her job.

Most of the rapes have no witnesses.

While there might be some women who will scream rape after a consensual encounter (happens in highly religious and conservative societies in Asia) it is almost unheard of in the US.

[uppityperson]

20. Are you even trying? Rape survivors do not "have sex with the accused" but are assaulted by the

accused.

Who, beyond you, is saying in any way that a rape kit be mandatory? The defendant's lawyer is paid to defend them, as the prosecuting lawyer is paid to prosecute them. Finally, rarely are there witnesses but of course if there are they should be used.

"Woman who had sex with the accused"? Pshaw, very rare would that ever be.

[arcane1]

22. Someone really needs to get a life n/t

[uppityperson]

23. you mean beyond presenting false assumptions on and getting repeatedly banned from DU?

[arcane1]

24. It's a start! :)

[uppityperson]

25. well you're no fun and obviously not oc enough.

[BillZBubb]

8. Good for her. I hope her attorney is a real bulldog.

It will be interesting to see how the NFL handles this mess.

[TheNutcracker]

9. If Bucs draft this monster, we will not be watching any football here.

[WestSideStory]

26. Monster? N/t

[Gothmog]

12. I wish her luck on this lawsuit

I think that her claims were not investigated properly due to pressure from football program