A California judge has dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by former Chicago Bear Ray McDonald against a woman who accused him of rape.
McDonald failed to produce any admissible evidence that the woman had spoken to anyone other than law enforcement officials about her accusations, and statements to police are considered protected speech, Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge William Elfving said in the ruling last week.
A call to McDonald's attorney, Steve Defilippis, was not immediately returned.
Gloria Allred, who is representing the woman, said the ruling sent a message to NFL players and other celebrities that defamation suits against people who report crimes to authorities are a losing strategy.