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Last updated 21 April 2015
She says he assaulted her; he alledges extortion
Wrestler Hulk Hogan filed a lawsuit Thursday in Minneapolis in an effort to silence a woman's alligations that he sexually assaulted her over the Labor Day weekend.
However, the lawsuit has backfired and turned what had been a quiet dispute into a very public battle. While Hogan's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis under his real name Terry Bollea, does not mention what he is accused of, the woman's lawyer now feels free to go public with the details.
"My client was sexually assaulted by Hulk Hogan," said Peter Johnson, of Wayzata, who is representing Kate Kennedy. "She described a very serious sexual assault. I have no reason not to believe her. She's very persausive."
Geoffrey Jarpe, Hogan's Lawyer in the federal lawsuit, declinded to discuss specifics of the allegations, but said Hogan absolutely denies any criminal activity. The wrestler's lawsuit accuses the woman and her attorney of extortion.
The case is unusual in a number of ways, but according to the two lawyers and the court filings, here is what has happened.
Johnson said Hogan was in town over the Labor Day weekend for a World Championship Wrestling event at the Mall of America, where Kennedy was managing the promotional merchandise for the event. Johnson would only say that Kennedy is a 29-year-old businesswoman in the Twin Cities.
Johnson said that during the time Hogan was here he sexually assaulted Kennedy. He declined to give more details. Apparently, Kennedy never reported the case to authorities; Johnson declined to say why.
Instead, she went to Johnson. On Dec. 15, they sent a letter to Hogan through a process server. The letter alleged Hogan sexually assaulted Kennedy, and requested he call them about resolving it or they might take the matter to the police.
"She notified Mr. Bollea about it; she tried to settle it quietly," Johnson said. "She made no financial claims."
In the court case filed Thursday against both Johnson ans Kennedy, Hogan claims otherwise. He said the letter was received at Hogan's Clearwater, Fla., home on Christmas Eve and was an attempt "to extort money" by threatening him with criminal prosecution and by saying Kennedy and Johnson would request a multimillion-dollar verdict, according to the court papers.
Hogan is married with young children; the letter was an effort to extort money by jeopardizing his marriage, family life and livelihood, according to the suit. The letter's delivery was meant to cause Hogan "great emotional distress,: the suit says.
Jarpe said it is illegal for Johnson to threaten to bring a criminal action even if she has a valid civil suit. He also said it was not inconsistant for Hogan o bring a lawsuit, ehich will make the allegations public, even though his apparent concern is to protect his family and his image. The letter already has harmed Hogan, he said.
"That's part of the issues in the case," Jarpe said. "Courts exist to resolve these issues, and he authorized us to proceed."
Johnson said he contacted the state lawyers board of professional responsibility and officials told him there was no ethical reason for him not to mention the possibility of criminal charges.
"We believe he has no claim," Johnson said. "His claim is frivolous. I'm sure they are trying to create havoc. We see it as a harassment lawsuit."
He also said he was surprised at Hogan's actions.
"It did not surprise me he took an aggresive stance," Johnson said. "It did surprise me he would be so public. This kind of case, you hope it can be privately resolved."
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