SYRACUSE, N.Y.—A legal complaint involving a woman who accused boxing legend Mike Tyson of sexual assault from an incident that occurred over three decades ago has been officially withdrawn. The accuser alleged that Tyson raped her in a limousine back in 1991, and her decision to retract the lawsuit has been documented in a letter submitted to the U.S. District Court.
The correspondence from Tyson’s legal representative, Daniel Rubin, revealed that the opposing counsel had communicated the decision to withdraw the complaint and end the case voluntarily. The contents of the letter, dated March 7, were initially reported by USA Today.
On Tuesday, the woman’s lawyers expressed their regret over the dismissal, indicating it was necessitated by procedural issues. “We are extremely disappointed that the court did not allow us to amend the pleadings in the case. It’s a shame our client’s case had to be dismissed on procedural grounds,” stated attorney Darren Seilback. He asserted their unwavering belief in their client’s account and pledged full support for her.
The lawsuit was originally filed in January 2023, with the claimant recounting an incident in which Tyson, a former world heavyweight champion from 1987 to 1990, allegedly raped her following a meeting at an Albany nightclub. She claimed to have endured enduring “physical, psychological and emotional injury” as a result of the encounter.
Tyson has consistently denied these charges. He has, however, faced legal consequences in the past, having been convicted of rape in a separate 1992 case, resulting in a three-year prison term.
The lawsuit against Tyson was initiated under the auspices of New York’s Adult Survivors Act, a law designed to give victims of sexual assault a one-year opportunity to pursue legal action no matter when the alleged incident took place.
Daniel Rubin, Tyson’s lawyer, did not provide further comments when approached via email.
