Woman Accuses Ben Roethlisberger of Sexual Assualt

A woman named Andrea McNulty has filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit against Pittsburg Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The woman accuses Big Ben of raping and sexually assaulting her. The woman said that Roethlisberger lured her into a hotel room, then sexually assaulted her. This woman was working as an executive casino host at the time of the incident. The lawsuit made by this woman and her lawyer says that Big Ben telephoned her to tell her his television sound system wasn't working and asked her to look at it. She couldn't find a technician, so she handled it herself.

As the report goes on, she determined that the TV was working properly but as she began to leave the room, Roethlisberger blocked the exit. According to the woman, he grabbed her and started to kiss her. "But instead of stopping, Roethlisberger began fondling plaintiff through her dress and between her legs," the suit said. "He held her against her will and physically moved the plaintiff and pushed her onto his bed" where he raped her, the suit says. At the time of the incident, Big Ben was in Nevada for a celebrity golf tournament, one that he plays every year.

The suit seeks $440,000 in damages from Big Ben, and another $50,000 from Harrah's officials. She also alleges that hotel officials covered up the incident.

Roethlisberger and his lawyer are adamantly denying the allegations, wondering and pointing out why the woman never went to the authorities to file a lawsuit immediately if he had done it. The lawyer made a statement saying: "Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone. 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."

Roethlisberger has said that him and the woman did have a sexual liaison at the time, but it was purely consensual.

Big Ben was drafted in the first round, eleventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger had a great rookie season, taking the Steelers to AFC Championship Game, before losing to the Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots. In his second NFL season, Big Ben won his first Super Bowl, when the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. After two lackluster seasons, Big Ben would resurrect his career, and win his second Super Bowl last season. The Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl 43, after a late winning touchdown drive.

Roethlisberger is one of the biggest names in the NFL these days and the defending Super Bowl Champion, who is about to report to Steelers training camp, as the team tries to defend their Super Bowl title.