Laws Protecting Sexual Crime Victims Enable Lawsuits
A lawsuit demanding $5 million (approximately 6.17 billion KRW) in damages has been filed, claiming that Mike Tyson (56), who was known as the 'Iron Fist' in the early 1990s, raped a woman.
On the 24th (local time), AP News and others cited a complaint submitted to a New York court, reporting that the woman met Tyson at a nightclub in Albany, New York, then rode in his limousine where she was raped, and suffered "physical, mental, and emotional harm" for several years afterward.
An unidentified American woman has filed a lawsuit demanding $5 million in damages, claiming she was raped by Tyson over 30 years ago. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The woman claimed that she expressed refusal when Tyson attempted to kiss her in the limousine, but he pulled down her lower garments and committed sexual assault.
The woman stated that the incident occurred in the early 1990s, around the time Tyson sexually assaulted Desiree Washington, a college student and Miss Black America contestant. Tyson was convicted of raping Washington, who was 18 at the time, on February 10, 1992, and served three years in prison.
The New York local media that first reported the lawsuit explained that the woman refused to disclose her identity due to concerns that she might suffer additional mental harm, harassment, ridicule, or personal difficulties.
Darren Seilback, the attorney representing the woman, stated that after reviewing her claims, he judged them to be "highly credible."
Meanwhile, the woman's lawsuit was made possible thanks to New York State's 'Adult Survivors Act' protecting sexual assault victims. New York enacted this law in November last year, allowing adult victims of sexual violence to file civil lawsuits within one year regardless of the statute of limitations.
Shortly after the law took effect, former U.S. President Donald Trump and comedian Bill Cosby were sued over sexual assault allegations from decades ago.
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