ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, September 4, 1996 TAG: 9609040100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: NFL NOTES
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
St. Louis Rams running back Lawrence Phillips beat, threatened and once sexually assaulted a former girlfriend during their two-year relationship at the University of Nebraska, a lawsuit said.
Katherine McEwen, of Topeka, Kan., filed the lawsuit Aug. 16 in Jackson County (Mo.) Circuit Court, and it remained sealed until Tuesday, The Kansas City Star reported in today's editions.
A judge briefly opened the lawsuit and then resealed it, The Star reported.
Phillips, a former Nebraska football star, had pleaded no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and assault for a Sept. 10, 1995, attack on McEwen, a Nebraska basketball player. He was not charged with any sex crimes at the time. The lawsuit states that Phillips beat and threatened her and reconciled with her repeatedly after the two started dating in August 1993.
McEwen's lawsuit asks for unspecified actual and punitive damages for sexual assault, battery, kidnapping, assault, false imprisonment, emotional distress and the violation of her rights.
The lawsuit said she did not tell Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne about the alleged sexual assault, but it did not explain why she did not.
A Rams spokesman told The Associated Press on Tuesday the team would have no immediate comment.
Other allegations contained in the lawsuit include:
In October 1994, Phillips allegedly shoved McEwen's head into a wall so hard it broke through the wall, then choked her and would not allow her to leave his apartment.
In April 1995, Phillips asked her if she was dating anyone else and allegedly threatened her saying, ``I'm going to shoot you in the kneecaps and then shoot you in the elbows. This is Los Angeles gang style of dealing with people.''
On May 10, 1995, Phillips allegedly slashed her car tires and threatened to kill her after he demanded a glass of water and McEwen told him to get it himself.
On Aug. 24, 1995, McEwen agreed to drive Phillips, who was drunk, home to his apartment. He allegedly forced her to stay there and sexually assaulted her.
On Sept. 10, 1995, Phillips allegedly beat her and kicked her while she was at a friend's house. McEwen contends he then grabbed her hair, ``caveman style,'' pulled her down three flights of steps and slammed her head into a wall.
In other NFL news:
BEARS: His team hurting at tight end, Chicago coach Dave Wannstedt said he planned to sign former Virginia Cavalier Bobby Neely off the Miami Dolphins' practice squad. The deal should be done by today.
Neely had been in training camp with the Bears and was cut. But with starter Keith Jennings straining a groin muscle in Monday's season-opening victory over the Dallas Cowboys, and with Chris Gedney still sidelined by a foot injury, the Bears need another tight end.
Wannstedt also said that Rashaan Salaam, a 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie last season who missed the opener with hamstring and knee injuries, wouldn't practice today and was a questionable starter for Sunday.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 linesby CNB