DENVER, March 2 -- Kobe Bryant and the 20-year-old woman who accused him of rape nearly two years ago settled her civil lawsuit against him Wednesday, ending a case that tarnished one of the NBA's brightest young stars.
Terms were not released. A statement faxed to the Associated Press by Bryant's attorneys said only that the matter had been resolved "to the satisfaction of both parties.
"The parties and their attorneys have agreed that no further comments about the matter can or will be made," the statement said. A motion for dismissal stipulating that the case can never be re-filed was filed simultaneously in Denver federal court.
Bryant was in Boston for Wednesday's game against the Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers spokeswoman Allison Bogli said before the game that Bryant would not comment on the settlement.
The agreement probably spells out financial penalties for revealing any details, said Steve Cron, a Los Angeles attorney familiar with celebrity cases.
"It's in both parties' interests to have this remain confidential," he said. "That's one of the incentives for them to settle: He didn't have to do a deposition, the lurid details wouldn't be posted on some Web site. She didn't have to face the rigors of having a deposition by his lawyers and she'll gain some privacy as well."
