Acquitted of rape, Denver doctor sues accuser

Article here. Excerpt:

'A Denver anesthesiologist cleared in criminal court of raping his nanny is now suing his accuser for lost wages and emotional damages in an unusual lawsuit that's bound — once again — to come down to he said, she said.

A jury in February acquitted Jordan Sankel, 47, finding there wasn't enough evidence showing he forced his nanny into sex. Three months later, he filed a slander and abuse-of- process lawsuit against the former nanny, asking for an unspecified amount greater than $100,000.

Her attorneys call the suit an "outrageous" attempt at retribution, and rape awareness counselors shudder at attaching potential civil penalties to filing a police report on an already underreported crime.

But criminal defense attorneys say civil litigation — though a very rare move — is one way an already acquitted defendant can fully prove his innocence and restore his reputation.
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"It's outrageous that he sued her. I can't believe he's done this," Killmer said. "He's already hurt her terribly, and he's trying again just because she had the courage to stand up."'