If Kobe's found innocent, can he sue?

Even if he could, what would he get?

 

hypothetically, if I were rich and women were telling lies about me in order to get a crapload of money out of it and it ends up not being true? I'd sue the **** out of them. They wanted money that wasn't rightfully theirs, now they won't have ANYTHING at all.

If it's not true, Kobe should sue. It's not that he needs any money but he'd feel really good about getting back at her if she's telling lies. I know I would if I were Kobe.

 

Why would he?
It would just keep the story in the limelight even longer.

 

KOBE will be convicted.

 

We don't know the evidence to jump to that conclusion. That's as wrong as assuming the prosecution's chief witness (victim makes too much of an assumption one way as alleged victim does the other) is a "ho."

Already hasty people on the internet and media have identified the wrong person and held her to public ridicule. I hope she successfully litigates against every person and medium that took part in this "innocent fun."

Another point to be considered, especially by the Bare Bryant camp, is this scenario: Suppose the chief witness for the prosecution feels so stigmatized that she commits suicide. Bryant's people are harping on reports she has attempted it not once but twice. Well, if she were successful, the tide against Bryant would be insurmountable, even for his attorneys. He would bear that cross until the day he dies.

 

If he's wise enough he should just calm down & quietly walk away from lawsuits whenever he can & concentrate on his basketball career...

 

He would end up paying more in lawyers fees trying to sue, then he would get even if he won the suit.

 

1. The criminally accused are not found "innocent." They are found "not guilty." There is a big difference. The jury does not conclude that the person charged didn't do the crime. Rather, they find that there was not evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty.

2. Kobe could only sue for something like intentional infliction of emotional distress, slander or libel. Those civil cases are notoriously difficult to prove up. IIED requires proof that basically the girl deliberately lied. The fact that the jury finds Kobe "not guilty" does not mean that she deliberately lied. The jury could have been stupid, or the jury could have believed her side, but still have reasonable doubt. I think slander and libel requires proof of malice. I forget. In any event, those are also hard to prove. If I'm a civil juror, I don't have much sympathy for Kobe because he is a public figure and many people believe these type of accusations are an "occupational hazard", out of a lack of better terms.

3. Kobe would want this to pass as quicklyas possible. No way he would sue.

4. Finally, the girl is what we would call "judgement proof." You only sue someone in civil court if they have money that you can collect.

 

Didn't the DA bring criminal charges? Kobe would have to sue the DA and the county wouldn't he.

I am not lawyer, but this is a young DA who obviously witnessed the OJ trial and he appears to be pretty bright ( Dartmouth ) and all. I just don't think he would have brought the charges if they were not a lock to begin with. I know Kobe's lawyers have couple of months to discredit her, but the testimony has already been taken and the DA thought he had sufficient evidence to bring the charges.

BTW: Mike Tyson went to prison on he-said-she-evidence !

 

Thanx RileyDog and krocket for you guys analysis.

I might be hasty to jump to conclusions. But Kobe is one of the finest BB Player in NBA, I have always admired his skills and his behaviour off court. However, his reactions to the rape allegation has not been ... very forth coming. Had he told admitted the adultery right from the beginning, I 'd applaud him for his honesty. But now he seems more like a tube of toothpaste.

I stick with my words: he WILL be convicted.

 

Well, if Kobe is found innocent, the alleged victim can then file a civil suit in which she can pursue Kobe's pocketbook. Didn't OJ Simpson lose his civil suit and get various items taken from him, including his Heisman Trophy?

 

She can file a civil suit whether or not he is found guilty. Yes, a civil jury gave OJ's deceased wife's family millions even though he was found 'not guilty'. As someone pointed out earlier, 'innocent' and 'not guilty' require different levels of evidence and jury voting.

 

Kobe didn't have to admit to the adultery until it became necessary to his defensive strategy. His legal team didn't think that the evidence was strong enough for charges to be filed. Why the hell just give up that kind of personal information while there was still a chance that the case would go nowhere? That's a personal call by him and his wife, not a move to please Olliez the ClutchCity poster.

 

this is wrong. look up the word again. A man is innocent if he is found free of guilt of a crime.

as in...."innocent until proven guilty in a court of law."

I don't know why you are defining the word in a manner which basically says that once charged you are never "innocent" rather "not guilty."

dude

you're wrong. And don't even begin a semantic argument.

you are just wrong about the word "innocent."

admit it and move on.