Bryant Case Moving Forward

The first deposition in the federal civil case against Kobe Bryant will be taken today in Houston, and an attorney for the woman accusing the Laker guard of sexual assault expressed eagerness for the case to move toward trial.

Bryant’s attorneys will depose a witness at the Colorado mountain hotel where the alleged rape occurred in June 2003. Another potentially significant deposition, that of corporate officials of American Media Inc., is scheduled for Feb. 16.

American Media owns several tabloids, which Bryant’s attorneys contend should share in any liability for damages the accuser might have suffered. The Globe, in particular, published several photographs of the woman and articles about her personal life.

Attorneys for the 20-year-old woman say they do not believe liability extends beyond Bryant and have accused his lawyers of using tactics to delay the trial. Lin Wood, an attorney for the woman, said Sunday that suing Bryant is “no different than suing a major corporation. His defense is designed to increase the expense of prosecuting the case.”

The burgeoning cost of the case has discouraged the accuser from filing suit against Bryant in Orange County, where the NBA star resides. She had considered moving the action from Colorado federal court to California state court or filing a second suit because there is no cap on monetary damages for pain and suffering in California. In Colorado, such damages typically are capped at $730,000.

“My client wants to get this case to trial sooner as opposed to later,” Wood said. “I will concede that an unlimited defense budget would allow a lot of litigation in California on a lot of issues. I’m convinced the defense would litigate those issues fully regardless of cost and time.”

Wood and co-counsel John Clune have said they are representing the accuser on a contingency basis. Clune has represented the woman since July 2003, and Wood came onboard a year later.

The woman claims Bryant raped her in his Vail-area hotel room, where she worked and he was a guest. A felony sexual assault charge was dropped during jury selection last September when the woman told prosecutors she would not testify.

Wood had recommended that the woman pursue Bryant in civil court rather than at a criminal trial, and several legal experts predicted a monetary settlement would be reached. However, it is clear Bryant is not willing to settle quickly or easily, if at all.

Bryant’s deposition was scheduled for Dec. 10, but his attorneys had it delayed. Wood said he was hopeful it will be re-scheduled for early February.

“He is fighting right now not to have any discussion of his sexual life” allowed at the deposition, Wood said. “Regardless, when he sits across the table from me, I will get Kobe Bryant’s attention. I find it hard to believe he wants a jury verdict.”

Wood said that his side would be ready for a trial before the end of the year.

“My case is not a complicated case,” he said. “But the defense might try to complicate it.”

Wood also did not rule out filing a suit in Orange County.

“It’s something that is an alternative potentially available in the future within the statute of limitations,” he said. “But our present decision is to move solely in Colorado.”