LEXINGTON, Ky. -- A woman whose claim that she was raped
last year at Wildcat Lodge wasn't pursued by prosecutors has sued
former University of Kentucky basketball star Chuck Hayes for
damages.
A suspect was not publicly named. However, an agent for Hayes
confirmed at the time that Hayes had been notified of the
investigation.
Cynthia W. Smithers is asking for $75,000 and unspecified
punitive damages for her "pain and suffering, embarrassment and
damage to reputation," according to the lawsuit filed Wednesday in
U.S. District Court in Lexington.
Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney Ray Larson announced in
November he would not pursue charges because he had "serious
doubts about the complainant's credibility and great concern about
the lack of corroboration of her account."
Smithers claims she was drugged and raped April 20, 2005, at
Wildcat Lodge, which is where some Kentucky men's basketball
players live. Assistant Police Chief Ken Hall has said the suspect
told police he and the woman had consensual sex.
Bill Duffy, agent for Hayes, who now plays for the Houston
Rockets, declined to comment when contacted by phone in California.
Two attorneys represented Smithers in the criminal case, but her
lawsuit was filed pro se, meaning without an attorney.
A call Thursday to one of the attorneys, Traci Boyd, was not
immediately returned. Smithers' phone number was listed as out of
service.