Ben Roethlisberger Accused by Andrea McNulty of Sexual Assault in Reno

Ben Roethlisberger has been accused of sexual assault There is a breaking story with few details filtering out of Reno, Nevada, that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been named in a civil lawsuit filed by the lawyer of a woman named Andrea McNulty. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Andrea McNulty named Ben Roethlisberger and eight other defendants in a defamation lawsuit filed Friday in Washoe County District Court. Nearly all that is known about the civil lawsuit is that Andrea McNulty alleges that Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her in Reno.

According to TMZ.com, Andrea McNulty, an employee of Harrah's Hotel in Lake Tahoe, claims that she was lured to Ben Roethlishberger's hotel room in July 2008. He then allegedly sexually assaulted her.

Ben Roethlisberger, two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback of the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, was in Nevada at the time for a celebrity golf tournament.

David Cornwell, Ben Roethlisberger's lawyer, issued a statement on behalf of his client: "This weekend Andrea McNulty served Ben Roethlisberger with a civil complaint accusing him of sexually assaulting her in July 2008," Cornwall said. "Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty.

"The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct.

"If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated."

According to court documents, attorney Calvin R. Dunlap of Reno filed the lawsuit. According to the Gazette Journal, Calvin R. Dunlap represents former Nevada first lady Dawn Gibbons in the divorce case filed against her by Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons.

This lawsuit will remind many of the Kobe Bryant rape case that was dismissed back in 2004. A 19-year-old hotel employee in Vail, Colorado, alleged that Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant raped her in a hotel room. And like the lawsuit filed against Ben Roethlisberger, others were named as co-defendants as well. According to NBC Sports, Kobe Bryant even admitted to consensual sex with the woman in 2003. The criminal case against Kobe Bryant was dismissed when the plaintiff refused to testify -- even though the district attorney believed that she would win -- after her name and personal details were "leaked" and the judge ruled that her sexual history could be used as evidence by the defense.

Strangely enough, Ben Roethlisberger was in Nevada this weekend for a golf tournament.

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Sources:

TMZ.com
RGJ.com
NBCSports.com