A lawsuit stemming from a 2012 incident settled earlier this week for $575,000. It was filed on behalf of a woman, Brie Ana Williams, and claimed she was raped at a Los Vaqueros Trail Ride event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Williams filed her lawsuit against rodeo after she said “someone raped her during an event associated with the trail riders in Dayton in 2012.” Though a settlement was finally agreed to, the complaints against the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo were dismissed.
A lawsuit stemming from a 2012 incident settled earlier this week for $575,000. It was filed on behalf of a woman, Brie Ana Williams, and claimed she was raped at a Los Vaqueros Trail Ride event at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Williams filed her lawsuit against rodeo after she said “someone raped her during an event associated with the trail riders in Dayton in 2012.” Though a settlement was finally agreed to, the complaints against the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo were dismissed.
Shortly after the lawsuit was officially filed, Williams’ attorney, Chad Pinkerton, said the organizations have a responsibility to ensure their events are safe. He added, “The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo had a duty to protect Brie Ana and every other woman who attends trail ride events.”
Prior to the settlement announcement, the rodeo argued it was not involved in any way with the Los Vaqueros Trail Ride when it took place. In a statement released earlier today, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo said:
“The Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride Association and Pinkerton Law Firm, the lawyers for Ms. Williams, settled a lawsuit that involved a sexual assault that occurred in Liberty County at a Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride Association social function in December 2012, completely unrelated to any Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo event. The judge officially dismissed the Rodeo from the lawsuit and there was no money paid by or on behalf of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.”
Despite the recent settlement announcement, a dispute between the rodeo and investigating consultant Wayne Dolefino continues. During the investigation into the rape incident, Wayne Dolefino, worked on behalf of Williams and spent time collecting various records from the rodeo about its “finances, sexual harassment allegations and details of its security payments.” When he asked the rodeo for the records, though Dolcefino said it refused, prompting him to file a criminal complaint.
However, Patrick Mizell, the attorney representing the rodeo pushed back against the complaint and said the rodeo handed over 60,000 pages of financial records. He added:
“The fight between the rodeo and Mr. Dolcefino goes on. We’ve produced the general ledger of the rodeo which we think the Texas Non-Profit Act requires and we’re gonna ask a court to make a decision about whether what the rodeo has provided complies with the law.”
At the moment, the same judge who heard the rape case involving Williams and the Los Vaqueros Trail Ride event will hear the case between the rodeo and Dolcefino. When commenting on the matter, Dolcefino’s attorney, Jeff Diamant said:
“We feel great. I think this is a good decision and to me, in my opinion, it means the judge is seeing through what the rodeo is trying to do, to avoid determinations. Certainly, avoid determinations by this court.”
Sources:
Rape victim settles lawsuit against Los Vaqueros Trail Riders for $575K
Rape victim sues Houston Rodeo, Los Vaqueros trail ride over 2012 assault
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