Attorney: 'The charges are false'
De La Hoya raped 15-year-old girl, lawsuit claims
Posted: Wednesday November 25, 1998 06:21 PM
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De La Hoya says the charges are false and motivated by money Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport |
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Oscar De La Hoya, unbeaten WBC welterweight
champion, is accused in a lawsuit by a woman of rape 21/2 years ago
in Mexico, when she was 15 years old.
Lisa L. Maki, attorney for the unidentified woman, said
Wednesday that "we have ample evidence."
The lawsuit, filed a day earlier in San Bernardino County
Superior Court, alleges De La Hoya raped the woman, who turned 18
in September, in a hotel room in Cabo San Lucas in June 1996.
Bob Arum, De La Hoya's longtime promoter, said he was
"absolutely outraged" by the suit.
"This is a total and complete crock," Arum said from his Las
Vegas office. "Two and a half years after the alleged event, this
complaint is filed. There never, ever, ever was a complaint made to
the authorities in Cabo or to the hotel where the incident
allegedly took place.
"It's an attempt to extort money and to use the legal system to
extort money, and it's an absolute outrage because nothing ever
happened. Nothing, nothing. He wouldn't know this girl if she
walked into the same room with him."
Arum said he believes the suit is the direct result of a story
in the Los Angeles Times three months ago about De La Hoya's
fun-loving behavior in Cabo San Lucas last Easter.
The complaint also charges De La Hoya with assault, battery,
false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional
distress.
Maki said at a news conference at her law office in suburban Bel
Air she was told by De La Hoya's attorney the boxer didn't remember
her client, and has slept with 500 women since the time of the
alleged incident.
De La Hoya's lawyer, Martin Castillo, told KABC late Tuesday
that "the charges are false and we are looking forward to
litigating the matter in a court of law. ... We believe (the
charges) are financially motivated."
Castillo didn't return a phone call Wednesday.
Maki said she was contacted by the woman approximately two years
ago.
"My client is terrified," Maki said. "I can't discuss the
factual allegations."
Maki said Mexican authorities were contacted about six months
ago but were "unwilling to help."
"Our only remedy at this point is civil," Maki said, adding
that her client was damaged emotionally and physically.
When asked if the suit was financially motivated, Maki replied,
"Unfortunately, the American system is set up that way. That's the
only way victims can be compensated."
The plaintiff has only been identified as Jane Doe, a caucasian
U.S. citizen. Maki would not say where her client lived, and said
the suit was filed in San Bernardino County because De La Hoya
lives and trains in the community of Big Bear, located in the
county.
The lawsuit asks for actual and punitive damages.
"I think we can get more than ($10 million) based on the
evidence we have and the research I've done," Maki said. "I
believe we can get double that."
Maki said she didn't know when a trial might be held, guessing
it would take about 18 months.
Maki also wouldn't say if a settlement offer had been made.
"She's doing OK," Maki said of her client. "She's afraid. I
think any victim of rape has a certain amount of shame, a certain
amount of fear. She's not fully recovered. I don't believe anyone
fully recovers from this."
Maki said the filing of a lawsuit was put off until after her
client turned 18 and until she was strong enough physically and
emotionally to go through litigation.
De La Hoya, who grew up in East Los Angeles and has a 29-0
record with 24 knockouts, is scheduled to defend his title against
Ike Quartey of Ghana on February 13 in Las Vegas.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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