Andrea McNulty
Andrea McNulty According to court documents that have just been released, a Nevada judge has denied motions by Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's lawyers to dismiss a civil lawsuit alleging he raped a Lake Tahoe casino worker.

Washoe District Judge Brent Adams rejected arguments that the suit should be dismissed. Judge Adams said Andrea McNulty's will get her day in court, because her allegations make a "sufficient" claim that if proven, would entitle her to relief.

Roethlisberger's lawyer David Cornwell believes that despite the outcome of the judges ruling, his team was encouraged by the his reasoning.

"Finding that plaintiff survived this round because of a generous 'beyond doubt' standard indicates that, at these early stages, the court is inclined to give plaintiff her day in court,"
Cornwell said in a written statement. "Of course, this cuts both ways."

McNulty, a 31-year-old VIP hostess at Harrah's, filed a civil suit in July, alleging Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her while he was in Lake Tahoe the previous summer to compete in a celebrity golf tournament. The suit claimed she was hospitalized for several months because she was traumatized after the alleged attack.

McNulty is seeking a minimum $440,000 in damages from Roethlisberger, unspecified punitive damages and at least $50,000 in damages from eight Harrah's officials she accuses of orchestrating a cover-up of the incident.

Reportedly, McNulty has told Roethlisbeger that she will drop the lawsuit if he acknowledges the rap actually took place and apologizes. She would also like him to donate $100,000 to the Committee to Aid Abused Women in Nevada.

Roethlisbeger refused her offer.