Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been named as a defendant in a civil sexual assault complaint filed in Washoe County District Court in Reno, Nevada, according to the Associated Press. The lawsuit accuses the former superbowl champion of assaulting a woman in July of 2008. Apparently Mr. Roethlisberger is one of nine defendants listed in the complaint.
“Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone … The timing of the lawsuit and the absence of a criminal complaint and a criminal investigation are the most compelling evidence of the absence of any criminal conduct. If an investigation is commenced, Ben will cooperate fully and Ben will be fully exonerated,” David Cornwell, Roethlisberger’s lawyer, said in a statement released early Tuesday.
Roethlisberger played his college ball at Miami (OH) and was the 2004 AP Rookie of the Year. At the age of 23 Roethlisberger became the youngest Superbowl champion quarterback in NFL history, captaining the Steelers to a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Superbowl XL. He won a second superbowl last season, defeating the Arizona Cardinals in Superbowl XLIII.