NBA Star Derrick Rose's Rape Accuser to Take the Stand

LOS ANGELES, CA -- A $21 million civil lawsuit brought against New York Knicks guard Derrick Rose by a former girlfriend who alleges the NBA star and two of his friends drugged and sexually assaulted her is set to go to trial today in Los Angeles.

According to the suit, filed in federal court last year, the plaintiff contends Rose and a pair of his childhood friends slipped a drug into her drink in August 2013 before "gang raping" her at her apartment.

The athlete's attorney, Mark Baute, characterized the allegations as an attempt to extort "millions in damages from a celebrity," according to court filings.

U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald has ruled that the 30-year-old woman's name will be revealed after a jury is sworn.

The defendants acknowledge they had sex with the woman, but contend it was consensual.

Court papers show that the Los Angeles Police Department has opened an investigation into the woman's allegations.

Speaking at Knicks media day last week Rose, 27, denied any wrongdoing.

"I'm innocent. I felt like I didn't do anything wrong," he said.

The woman is listed as the first witness to take the stand following opening statements.

Attorneys said they expect Rose to appear in court for the first time Thursday to tell jurors his side of the story.

Civil litigation does not require defendants to be present during the entire trial, Fitzgerald said during a pretrial conference Monday.

The judge has limited attorneys to 16 hours per side for direct and cross examination.

Until he was traded recently to the Knicks, Rose was a star player with the Chicago Bulls.

City News Service