When the New York Knicks traded for Derrick Rose earlier this summer, the team knew they were getting a star point guard. Now, the lawyer for the woman suing Rose and two other men for allegedly raping her is claiming that the Knicks organization knew something else as well—that the lawsuit against Rose was already underway.
Brandon Anand, the lawyer of the unnamed 30-year-old plaintiff, spoke to the Daily News on Wednesday, and claimed that the Bulls traded Rose specifically because of the lawsuit. He told the paper that the Knicks should have conducted an investigation into the charges prior to signing the star.
"I think I would’ve shown them the documents that were public, that were fair game, and I think it all speaks for itself," Anand said. "[Rose’s] testimony certainly revealed a lot. Just showing them the evidence that's already out, they would’ve gotten a very clear idea about what actually happened.”
The Knicks had no new response to Anand. Instead, they referred reporters to a June statement from team president Phil Jackson. Jackson said he had knowledge of the situation, but no plans to investigate it. "We are aware of it," he said then. "Investigation is a big word."
Anand's response on Wednesday when informed of that quote? "I think [the Knicks] should’ve conducted that big word."
According to the Daily News, Rose hopes to settle the lawsuit out of court.
