LOS ANGELES -- "Lord of the Dance" star Michael Flatley was awarded $11 million in a default judgment against a woman who accused him of sexual assault and then allegedly tried to extort money from him, his attorney said.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael L. Stern, who heard testimony from Flatley on Friday, is expected to sign the judgment against Tyna Marie Robertson later this week, according to the dancer's lawyer, Ricardo P. Cesteron.
"He's quite pleased and he's happy to have this chapter of his life over and put this woman's false accusations behind him," Cestero said.
Whatever amount of the award Flatley actually receives from Robertson will be donated to charity, Cestero said.
Flatley sued Robertson and her lawyer, D. Dean Mauro, in March 2003. The suit stemmed from Robertson's allegations the dancer raped her at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas in October 2002. Las Vegas police confirmed a report was made, but no charges were filed.
Flatley, now 49, claimed he and Robertson had consensual sex in his hotel suite. Flatley's allegations against Robertson were civil extortion, fraud and defamation.
Flatley reached a settlement with Mauro in August, and Cestero asked Stern to sign a default judgment against Robertson in September.
But Stern said at that time that most of the information Cestero supplied was "conclusory" and said he needed more information about the financial impact on Flatley that he could only get from hearing him testify.
Flatley spent about 20 minutes on the stand telling the judge how Robertson's rape allegations have hurt his standing in the public eye.
The account was similar to that given by a declaration submitted by Flatley on Sept. 7.
"I believe the damage to my reputation from these false and defamatory accusations is very substantial," Flatley stated. "This, in turn, adversely affects the business of presenting Irish dance troupes throughout the world."
Robertson deliberately tried to "ruin" Flatley for "the rest of my life," he stated.
As part of his settlement with Flatley, Mauro acknowledged in a statement that he demanded the dancer pay millions of dollars if he did not want to be sued by Robertson.
"I apologize to Mr. Flatley for any harm, distress or damages he has suffered as a result of this matter and regret that my actions contributed to that harm," Mauro stated.
Flatley sued Mauro for civil extortion, intentional infliction of emotional distress and interference with economic advantage.
Flatley's suit was filed the same month Robertson lodged a $33 million civil sexual assault suit against Flatley in Lake County, Ill. Her suit was later dismissed.
Mauro is living in the Midwest and no longer practices law, Cestero said.
Robertson also is the ex-girlfriend of Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. The two are in a squabble over his visitation with their 2-year-old son Kennedy.
