Derrick Rose Assault Accuser’s Filed Complaint Has An Error

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The biggest headline in the city of Chicago isn’t the Chicago Cubs making a push towards the playoffs. No, that title belongs to Derrick Rose; who allegedly drugged and gang-raped his ex-girlfriend two years ago with two friends. The report from TMZ Sports surfaced late Wednesday night.

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Thursday afternoon brought a 31-page lawsuit that provides details of Derrick Rose’s potential involvement in the sexual assault. However, the complaint contains an interesting error around the time of the potential assault.

Chicago Tribune reporter Patrick M. O’Connell noticed an error in the plaintiff’s recollection of the events leading up to the rape.

"In May 2013, according to the lawsuit, the woman said she traveled to Chicago with Rose and that they went to dinner with a friend “at his house after the game he played in ended.” Rose, however, missed the entire the 2012-13 season with an injury and, consequently, did not play in May.(ChicagoTribune.com)"

Rose missed the entirety of the 2012-2013 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during the 2012 playoffs. Would this woman have known this if they were in a relationship?

The full lawsuit, which contains graphic sexual contentcan be read in full here.

Late Wednesday night, TMZ Sports reported that Derrick Rose and two of his friends drugged and gang raped a woman in August 2013. The woman, who identified herself only as Jane Doe, said she dated Rose from 2011-2013.

"Rose and two friends, Ryan Allen and Randall Hampton (who is also Rose’s personal manager), invited her to Rose’s Beverly Hills house. She says there, they slipped a drug into her drink with the aim of raping her. The plaintiff says she escaped the house with a friend, but later that night, Rose and his friends broke into her apartment and gang raped her while she was incapacitated. She says she remembers only “flashes” of the incident, but can remember the defendants forcibly raping her.(TMZSports.com)"

Rose’s attorney Lisa Cohen issued a statement on his behalf claiming that the charges against the 2011 NBA MVP were not true.

"The plaintiff’s allegations are completely false and without any factual basis. This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shake down a highly respected and successful athlete. Mr. Rose was in a non-exclusive, consensual sexual relationship with the plaintiff for over two years. The plaintiff expressed no complaints about Mr. Rose until various lawyers began to surface and demand that the plaintiff be paid millions of dollars. … This is the third lawyer the plaintiff has retained in this matter. Two years have passed since Mr. Rose ended the consensual relationship with the plaintiff, and her claims are as meritless now as they were two years ago. We have complete confidence that the case will be dismissed and that Mr. Rose will be vindicated. This lawsuit is outrageous. Liz Mullen (@SBJLizMullen)"

On Thursday, Rose issued a statement insisting his innocence.

"I am just focusing on staying healthy and getting ready for the season. I am not going to comment other than to say: I know the truth, and am confident I will be proven innocent.(Sam Amick, USA Today Sports)"

The Bulls won’t speak on the subject until they receive more information. In a press release from early Thursday morning:

"We just learned about this matter and do not know all the facts. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Bulls center Joakim Noah tweeted something today related to the case. The meaning of the tweet is up to interpretation.

Like most rape cases involving high-profile athletes, it comes down to Rose’s word versus the word of the woman accusing him of rape. Although, it is unfair to pass judgement until more information is provided, the error in the initial lawsuit definitely hurts her credibility moving forward.

The American legal system presumes that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Until proven otherwise, Rose deserves the benefit of the doubt. If, when due process has been followed and, God forbid, Rose was convicted of the alleged crimes, he deserves to be punished accordingly.

All we can do is wait and see what happens. Pray for the best.

Next: A timeline of the Derrick Rose allegations

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