DENVER – The law firm representing the woman Kobe Bryant (search) is accused of raping has hired a prominent libel attorney who also defended the parents of JonBenet Ramsey (search).
In a written statement issued Thursday, the alleged victim's attorney, John Clune, said Lin Wood (search) was hired because of "growing concerns" regarding media coverage of the 20-year-old woman and because of potential civil litigation related to those and other unspecified concerns.
The statement said neither Clune nor Wood would have any further comment. A telephone message left for Wood was not immediately returned.
The media is seeking access to closed-door hearing details from the case that were accidentally e-mailed to some news outlets. The transcripts are from a hearing last month that dealt primarily with arguments about the accuser's sexual activity in the days surrounding her encounter with Bryant and money given her by a state victims' compensation program.
Steve Zansberg, an attorney who represents the media, including The Associated Press, said he did not think Wood's hiring is directed at the media.
"The media is going to do what it is constitutionally authorized to do. That isn't going to change based on the identities of any of the attorneys in this case," he said.
Wood, who is based in Atlanta, filed a number of defamation lawsuits on behalf of John and Patsy Ramsey against various publications that blamed family members for JonBenet's 1996 slaying in Boulder. The case remains unsolved.
Lin also represented Richard Jewell (search) who sued several media outlets for reporting he was being investigated in the July 1996 bombing of Centennial Olympic Park. He was later cleared of any involvement.
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