NEW YORK (AP) — A former “Apprentice” contestant who accused former President Donald Trump of sexual assault dropped her defamation lawsuit towards him Friday.
Summer season Zervos sued the then-president in New York state courtroom in 2017, saying he broken her popularity when he mentioned she and different girls alleging sexual assault and harassment had been making issues up.
Friday’s submitting mentioned the case was dismissed and discontinued with prejudice, which means Zervos couldn’t file the identical declare in state courtroom sooner or later. The submitting additionally mentioned every get together is answerable for their very own prices.
Zervos accused Trump of kissing and groping her towards her will in 2007, talking of it through the 2016 presidential marketing campaign. He denied the accusations.
Zervos’ attorneys, Beth Wilkinson and Moira Penza, mentioned in statements that “after 5 years, Ms. Zervos now not needs to litigate towards the defendant and has secured the proper to talk freely about her expertise.”
“Zervos stands by the allegations in her criticism and has accepted no compensation,” they mentioned.
Trump’s lawyer, Alina Habba, known as Zervos’ resolution to drop the case “prudent.”
“She had no alternative however to take action because the info unearthed on this matter made it abundantly clear that our consumer did nothing fallacious,” Habba’s assertion mentioned.
“It’s so unhappy when issues like this may occur, however so extremely necessary to struggle for the reality and justice. Solely victory can restore one’s popularity!” Trump mentioned in his personal assertion.
Final month, Habba had requested the courtroom for permission to file a counterclaim towards Zervos. The 2 sides had been on account of full depositions by Dec. 23.
The Related Press usually doesn’t determine individuals who say they’ve been sexually assaulted, except they arrive ahead publicly, as Zervos has.