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Court says Ronaldo rape lawsuit in Vegas should be dismissed
A federal magistrate judge in Nevada has sided with Cristiano Ronaldo’s lawyers against a woman who sued for more than the $375,000 in hush money she received in 2010 after saying the international soccer star raped her in Las Vegas.
In a scathing recommendation to the judge hearing the case, Magistrate Judge Daniel Albregts on Wednesday blamed Kathryn Mayorga’s attorney, Leslie Mark Stovall, for inappropriately basing the civil damages lawsuit on leaked and stolen documents shown to be privileged communications between Ronaldo and his lawyers.
“Dismissing Mayorga’s case for the inappropriate conduct of her attorney is a harsh result,” the magistrate wrote in his 23-page report to U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey. “But it is, unfortunately, the only appropriate sanction to ensure the integrity of the judicial process.”
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“Stovall has acted in bad faith to his client’s — and his profession’s — detriment,” Albregts decided.
Stovall and other attorneys in his office did not immediately respond Thursday to telephone and email messages about Albregt’s report.
A date for Dorsey to take up the recommendation was not immediately set.
Ronaldo’s attorney in Las Vegas, Peter Christiansen, issued a statement calling Ronaldo’s legal team “pleased with the court’s detailed review ... and its willingness to justly apply the law to the facts and recommend dismissal of the civil case against Mr. Ronaldo.”
The Associated Press generally does not name people who say they are victims of sexual assault, but Mayorga gave consent through Stovall and attorney Larissa Drohobyczer to make her name public.
Albregts noted the court did not find that Ronaldo committed a crime and found no evidence his attorneys and representatives “intimidated Mayorga or impeded law enforcement” when Mayorga dropped criminal charges and finalized the $375,000 confidential settlement in August 2010.
Ronaldo, now 36, is one of the most recognizable and highly paid players in sports. He has captained his home country soccer team, Portugal, and plays for the English Premier League club Manchester United. He spent several years playing in Italy for the Turin-based club Juventus.
Also read: Ronaldo reportedly breaks coronavirus rules on 2-day break
Mayorga, 37, is a former teacher and model who lives in the Las Vegas area. She said in her lawsuit filed first in state court and moved to federal court that Ronaldo or his associates violated the confidentiality agreement by allowing reports about it to appear in European publications in 2017. She seeks to collect at least $200,000 more from Ronaldo.
She met Ronaldo at a nightclub in June 2009 and went with him and other people to his hotel suite, where she said he assaulted her in a bedroom, according to the lawsuit. She was 25 at the time. He was 24.
Ronaldo’s attorneys have acknowledged the soccer star and Mayorga had sex, but said it consensual and not rape.
Mayorga went to Las Vegas police, but the investigation was dropped at the time because Mayorga neither identified her alleged attacker by name nor said where the incident took place, Steve Wolfson, the elected prosecutor in Las Vegas, said in 2019.
Wolfson decided not to file criminal charges based on a new investigation by Las Vegas police in 2018 because he said too much time had passed and evidence failed to show that Mayorga’s accusation could be proven at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.
Word of the financial settlement became public after the German news outlet Der Spiegel published an article in 2017 titled “Cristiano Ronaldo’s Secret” based on documents obtained from “whistleblower portal Football Leaks.”
“The article makes it clear that these documents included privileged communications ... between Ronaldo’s European and U.S. attorneys about the settlement,” Albregts wrote.
Stovall “acted in bad faith by asking for, receiving, and using the Football Leaks documents to prosecute Mayorga’s case,” the magistrate judge found.
“Although Stovall never received — or even sought — an ethics opinion ... he had multiple opportunities to recognize the privileged nature of the documents, starting with the 2017 Der Spiegel article, which quotes privileged communications.”
Albregts rejected Stovall’s argument that using the documents was justified because Stovall wasn’t the one who stole them and he couldn’t prove they were stolen.
The attorney’s efforts to make confidential documents public through court filings were “audacious,” “impertinent” and “abusive,” the magistrate said.
Albregts recommended Dorsey also dismiss Stovall’s claim that because Mayorga had learning disabilities as a child and was pressured by Ronaldo’s representatives she lacked the mental capacity to sign the 2010 confidentiality agreement.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled early this year that it would be up to Dorsey to decide that question.
“Mayorga's case against Ronaldo would probably not exist had Stovall not asked for the Football Leaks documents,” Albregts wrote, and Mayorga’s knowledge of the documents’ contents "cannot be undone.”
“There is no possible way for this case to proceed where the court cannot tell what arguments and testimony are based on these privileged documents,” he said.
Club Cup Hockey: Abahani, Mohammedan make flying start
Dhaka Abahani Limited and Dhaka Mohammedan SC made flying start in the SIBL Club Cup Hockey Tournament outplaying their rivals in the opening day’s matches at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here on Thursday.
In the day’s opening match, Dhaka Mohammedan SC outplayed Ajax SC by 8-2 goals featuring four goals by Ashraful Islam in the 16th, 25th, 36th and 58th minutes.
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Rajib Das struck, Sarwar Morshed and Nasir Hossain scored one each for the black and whites Mohammedanx while Sabbir Hossain and Mosharaf Hossain Kuti contributed one each for the Elephant Road outfit Ajax SC.
In the day’s 2nd match, Dhaka Abahani crushed Police AC by 5-0 goal.
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Shafiul Alam Shisir struck twice, Roman Sarkar, Pushkar Khisa Mimo and Arshad Hossain scored one goal for the sky blues Dhanmondi outfit Abahani.
Earlier, Additional Managing Director of the meet sponsor SIBL M Tajul Islam inaugurated the meet Thursday afternoon.
GM Chess:Indian IM AronykGhoshm,NeelshSahamaintain joint lead
Two Indian IM AronykGhoshand NeelshSaha maintaining their joint lead in the Year Long First GM Chess Tournament securing 5.5 points each after the 7th round matches now being held at the media center of Bangladesh Olympic Association here on Tuesday.
GM VadimMalakhatkoof Belgium finished 2ndwith 5 points,
GM Deep Sengupta of India is in the 3rd position while Bangladeshi IM Mohammad FahadRahman is in the 4th slot with 4.5 points.
In the day’s 7th round matches, GM Malakhatko beat IM Fahad, IM Aronyk beat FM SubrotaBisaws, IM Neelash beat IM Mohammad MinhazUddin, IM Abu SufianShakil drew with GM Alexander Zubarev of Ukraine and GM Deep Sengupta drew with IM Mohammad NubairshahShaikh of India.
In the Year Long First IM Chess Tournament, IM KaustavChatterjeeleading the points table collecting 5,5points after the 8th round games at the same venue on Tuesday.
GM Alexey Kislinisky of Czech Republic is in the 2nd position with 5 points and CM TahsinTajwar Zia is in the 3rd slot securing 4.5 points.
In the day’s 8th round games: GM Alexey Kislinisky beat CM ManonRejaNeer, FM Mehdi HasanParag beat FM MdTaiburRahman, IM Kaustav beat SourathBisawas of India, FM Sheikh Nasir Ahmed beat IM MahmoodLodhi of Pakistan, CM Tahsin drew with IM AsylAbdyjapar of Kyrgyzstan.
The 8th round games of the GM Event and the 9th round games of the IM event will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 pm at the same venue.
BKSP finish top in Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming & Diving
Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishtan (BKSP) clinched the top slot in the Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition’2021, securing 48 gold, 53 silver and 42 bronze medals on the 3rd and final day of the meet at the concluded at Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Ansar followed the leader with 23 gold, 11 silver and 9 bronze, Gopalganj Swimming Club finished distant 3rd collecting nine gold medals while Bogra Swimming Center became 4th with 5 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronzes.
A total of 28 events were decided on the 3rd day and final day (Tuesday).
Mukti Khatun of Bangladesh Ansar was adjudged the best female swimmer of the meet securing eleven gold and two silvers with three new national records, while Mohammad Islam of Gopalganj Swimming Club named as the best man swimmer securing nine gold also featuring three new national records.
Secretary General of Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) Syed Shahed Reza was the chief guest at the day’s closing function and distributed the prizes at a simple ceremony, chaired by general secretary of Bangladesh Swimming Federation MB Saif.
Bangladesh Swimming Federation arranged the meet on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman that featured eleven new nationals records over the three days.
BKSP tops National Age Group Swimming medal table
The Bangladesh Krira Sikkha Protishtan (BKSP) claimed 34 gold medals till Monday to remain a runaway leader in the Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Diving Competition 2021.
The BKSP secured 103 medals, including 37 silver and 32 bronze medals, up to the second day of the three-day meet at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.
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Bangladesh Ansar remained in second place with 18 golds, eight silvers and four bronzes. The third-placed Bogura Swimming Centre collected three golds, four silvers and two bronzes.
Thirty-six events were completed today, featuring six new national records – five in swimming and one in diving.
Five swimming events were boys' and girls' 200-metre breaststroke (18-20 year group), boys' 200-metre backstroke (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre butterfly (18-20 year group), boys' 100-metre freestyle (18-20 year group) and one-metre springboard diving.
READ: Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming begins on Sunday
Sunday, President of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M Shaheen Iqbal inaugurated the three-day meet at a simple ceremony, chaired by Tarafder M Ruhul Amin, the BSF vice-president and managing director of the meet's sponsor Saif Powertek.
Bangladesh trade, investment virtual summit Oct 26-Nov 1
A week-long “Bangladesh Trade & Investment Summit” will be held virtually from October 26 to November 1, 2021.
The summit will be held to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Bangladesh’s golden jubilee of independence.
The Ministry of Commerce and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) will host the event. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate it.
Also read: DCCI plans investment summit in Singapore this year
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen assured of his fullest cooperation to the DCCI during a recent meeting with DCCI President Rizwan Rahman, said the DCCI on Monday.
The theme of the Summit is ‘Connecting the Economy of Tomorrow’ which coincides the spirit of 1971 where the number 1 stands for a single host nation, 9 stands for nine sectors, 7 stands for seven days and 1 stands for a summit.
The objective of the summit will be to promote Bangladesh as an attractive trading and FDI destination to global businesses, to extend global integration on trade and investment into a new global reality and secure investment in diverse priority and emerging industries for mutual benefits.
The summit will discuss nine sectors underscoring critical enablers and avenues of the economy, demanding massive investments, especially in infrastructure.
Also read: Bangladesh economy suffered due to Covid pandemic: DCCI Webinar
Followed by the inauguration, there will be a series of sector specific webinars where dignitaries, ministers, high government officials, researchers, think tanks, economists, policy makers and academicians both from home and abroad will also join.
More than 160+ B2B are expected to be held with the participation of 320+ business entrepreneurs.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen appreciated the endeavour of MoC and DCCI and said that it will be a very timely initiative to attract the readiness of Bangladesh to lure foreign investments.
Despite the pandemic, Bangladesh is poised to keep a positive economic growth, he said.
DCCI President Rizwan Rahman said despite the Covid crunch Bangladesh has registered a remarkable 5.47% GDP growth in FY2021.
He said the confidence of the global investors in Bangladesh has increased as some bold and strategic reforms are consistently being taken considering the changing geo-economic dynamics and private sector needs.
The DCCI President sought cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to disseminate the summit information to the businesses around the globe through all the Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh.
Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming begins on Sunday
The Bangabandhu 34th National Age Group Swimming and Dyving Competition 2021, arranged on the occasion of the of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, began on Sunday (Oct 3) at the Syed Nazrul Islam National Swimming Complex in Mirpur.
President of Bangladesh Swimming Federation (BSF) and Chief of the Bangladesh Navy Admiral M Shahin Iqbal inaugurated three-day meet at a simple ceremony, chaired by BSF vice president and Managing Director of the meet’s sponsored Saif Powertek Ltd Tarafder M Ruhul Amin.
Thirty six events were decided on the very first day (Sunday) featuring two new national records.
After the first day, BKSP comfortably dominated the medal table securing 17 gold, 20 silver and 14 bronzes while Bangladesh Ansar were in distant 2nd with seven gold, four silver and two bronzes.
Asian TT Championships: Bangladesh men beat Afghanistan, women Nepal
Both the Bangladesh men's and women's teams earned victories Wednesday on the second day of the Asian Table Tennis Championships, a qualifier for the World Cup in Qatar's Doha.
The top 12 countries of the 31 participating nations will qualify for the team events of the World Table Tennis competition.
Bangladesh men's team beat Afghanistan 3-2 while the women's team outplayed Nepal 3-0. This is the first victory for the Bangladesh women's team against Nepal.
In the women's group, Sadia Rahman Mou overcame Sikka 3-2, Sonam Sultana Soma defeated Elina 3-2, and Nowrin Sultana Mahi beat Evana 3-1.
In the men's group, Ramhim lost 0-3 in the first set; Hridoy won the second set 3-1. Sajib won the third set 3-1; Hridoy lost the fourth set, and finally, Ramhim won the fifth set 3-1 to win the match.
Bangladesh made a frustrating start to the continental competition, losing the men's and women's team match to Sri Lanka on the first day – Tuesday.
Mujib Borsho Golf: Kurmitola and Army golf club emerge joints champions
Kurmitola Golf Club and Army Golf Club emerged joint champions in the team event of the Mujib Borsho 5th Federation Cup Golf Championship’ 2021 that concluded at the Kurmitola Golf Course here on Monday.
Savar Golf Club finished runners-up in the meet.
Coln Humayun Rashed of Army Golf Club emerged men’s individual champion, Mrs Shaila Ahsan of the same club emerged women’s individual champion while Sabkat Ashraf Rakin of Kurmitola Golf Club became men’s junior individual champion.
Senior Vice President of Bangladesh Golf Federation (BGF) Major General M Zahirul Islam was the chef guest at the day’s closing function and later he distributed the prizes. BGF secretary general Brig Gen M Tajul Islam Thakur was also present at the function.
A total of 12 teams took part in the two day meet.
Sheikh Hasina Chess: Indian IM Sankalp, Mitrabha take joint lead
IM Sankalp Gupta and Mitrabha Guha of India are jointly leading the Joytu Sheikh Hasina International Grandmasters Chess Tournament 2021, securing 6.5 points each after eighth and penultimate round games held in the capital Sunday.
IM Aronyak Ghosh of India remained in the second position with 6 points.
Seven players – GM Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh, GM Masadeghpour Masoud of Iran; IM Mohammad Nubairshah Shaikh, IM Sayantan Das, IM Srijit Paul, IM Neelash Saha and Sanket Chakravarty of India – are sharing the third position, with 5.5 points each.
GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Bangladesh, GM Vadim Malakhatko of Belgium, IM Asyl Abdyjapar of Kyrgyzstan, IM Kaustav Chatterjee, Subhayan Kundu, Sourath Biswas of India earned five points each.
In Sunday's eighth round games, IM Sankalp drew with IM Nubairshah. IM Mitrabha beat IM Kaustav, IM Arnoyk beat Subhayan; GM Zia drew with IM Srijit, Sanket beat GM Andrey Sumets of Ukraine, IM Sayantan beat GM Ghaem Ehsan Maghami of Iran, IM Neelash beat GM Deep Sengupta of India, GM Masoud beat IM Sammed Jaykumar Shete of India, and GM Malakhatko beat IM Mohammad Fahad Rahman.
FM Md Taibur Rahman drew with Alexander Zubarev of Ukraine, IM Abdyjapar beat FM SK Nasir Ahmed, GM Razib beat CM Chanchal Kumar Ghosh, Sourath beat CM Liyange Ranindu Dishan of Sri Lanka, WIM Arpita Mukharjee of India drew with IM Abu Sufian Shakil, GM Alexey Kislinsky of Chez Republic beat FM Debaraj Chatterjee, FM Piyamantha Sasith Nipun of Sri Lanka beat CM Md Sharif Hossain, IM Mahmood Lodhi of Pakistan beat FM Syed Mahfuzur Rahman, FM Subrota Biswas beat Swrnavo Choudhury, FM Mohammad Javed drew with IM Mohammad Minhaz Uddin.
CM Tahsin Tajwar Zia beat CM Nayem Haque, CM Jamal Uddin beat FM Mehdi Hasan Parag, Jabed Al Azad drew with Anata Choudhury, CM Manon Reja Neer beat WFM Noshin Anjum, Shafiq Ahmed drew with cM Sohel Chowdhury, Sakline Mostafa Sajid beat Showkat Hossain Pollab, CM Sadnan Hasan Dihan beat Delwar Hossain, Mortuza Mahathi Islam beat Md. Sariatullah, FM Md Saif Uddin Lavu beat Mohammad Shameem, WCM Ahmed Walijah beat Kazi Zarin Tasnim, WCM Jannatul Ferdous Marzouq Chowdhury and Md Sajidul Haque beat Wadifa Ahmed.
The ninth and last round games will start Monday at 11:00 am at the same venue.