Ex-stripper lawsuit against Cowboys owner dismissed

DALLAS - A sexual assault lawsuit against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones seeking more than US$1 million (S$1.3 million) in damages was dismissed on Thursday.

State District Judge Dale Tillery ruled that allegations made by Jana Weckerly, a former stripper, were barred because the statute of limitations had expired.

"We are pleased with the court's judgment against Ms. Weckerly," Levi McCathern, the attorney representing the Cowboys and Jones, said in a brief statement sent to the Dallas Morning News. "Ms. Weckerly's allegations were false. This case is over."

Weckerly, 27, filed suit against Jones on September 8, alleging that the 71-year-old businessman fondled her and forced her to fondle him in an incident at a hotel in 2009.

At the time, McCathern called the lawsuit an attempt to embarrass Jones, and extort money from him.

Jones denied all of the Weckerly's allegations as "completely false."

His lawyers also argued that the statute of limitations on the incident had passed, since it occurred more than five years ago.