Former Dodger Yasiel Puig Accused Of Sexual Assault

Los Angeles CA

30 October, 2020

5:41 PM

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LOS ANGELES, CA — Former Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Yasiel Puig is facing an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman at Lakers Game at the Staples Center. The woman, identified only as Jane Roe, filed a lawsuit against the former Dodger Thursday, alleging assault and battery, intentional Infliction of emotional distress, negligence and false imprisonment. She is asking for unspecified compensatory and punitive damages. A representative for Puig, who is now a free agent, could not be immediately reached, and he did not immediately issue a statement in response to the allegation. The attack allegedly happened on Halloween in 2018 during a Laker game VIP lounge, two days after Puig los the World Series, according to the suit. The woman did not know Puig and met him briefly while watching the game, according to the suit. Roe alleges Puig grabbed her and forced her into a bathroom in the Chairman's Room lounge. Puig tried to pull off her clothes, touched her inappropriately and pinned her with one arm while he committed a lewd act, the suit alleges. "The defendant is a professional athlete who used his celebrity status to intimidate and sexually assault a stranger," plaintiff's attorney Taylor Rayfield said. "His brazen attack has caused emotional and psychological injuries to our client which have severely impacted her life." Roe said she is coming forward and filing the lawsuit because she believes she is not Puig's only such victim, and suspects more women have suffered from similar assaults. "I was in complete shock because it all happened so fast," said Roe. "It was terrifying and humiliating and I don't want anyone else to have to suffer the same kind of trauma that I'm experiencing." The 29-year-old Puig signed a seven-year, $42 million contract to play for the Dodgers in 2013. Most recently, the outfielder played for the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.