US judge dismisses rape lawsuit against Cristiano Ronaldo

US District Judge Jennifer Dorsey has dismissed a rape lawsuit against Man United forward Cristiano Ronaldo, Associated Press reports.

In 2018, Ronaldo paid Kathryn Mayorga $375,000 in hush money after she claimed he raped her in Las Vegas in 2009.

Now, the woman's legal team wanted to force Ronaldo to pay more than $25 million in damages.

However, their case was thrown out after it was found out that Mayorga's attorney Mark Stovall used leaked and stolen documents detailing attorney-client discussions between Ronaldo and his lawyers.

According to Judge Dorsey, the 'bad-faith conduct' ruined the case beyond reparation and ordered that it could be thrown out without the option to file it again.

In October 2018, Ronaldo issued a statement: "I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in."

Source: Associated Press