Ronaldo loses bid to dismiss or fully seal Vegas rape case

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo lost a bid for dismissal or complete secrecy in a federal lawsuit by a woman who accuses him of raping her at a Las Vegas resort in 2009.

Larissa Drohobyczer (droh-HOH’-bit-zer), attorney for Ronaldo’s accuser, Kathryn Mayorga, said Friday she’s satisfied with U.S. District Judge Jennifer Dorsey’s ruling.

Ronaldo’s attorney, Peter Christiansen, declined to comment.

Mayorga’s lawsuit seeks monetary damages. It alleges that Ronaldo or people working for him allowed word to become public last year of his $375,000 hush-money settlement with Mayorga 10 years ago.

The judge on Wednesday rejected Ronaldo’s claim that releasing court records risks public scandal and would harm Ronaldo’s reputation and endorsements.

However, she called the 2009 agreement between Ronaldo and Mayorga a private contract and said it will remain sealed.