Michael Flatley has won $11 million (€7.5 million) in a lawsuit against a woman who falsely accused him of sexual assault and attempted to extort money from him, it emerged today.
Flatley had lodged a $100 million dollar (€68 million) lawsuit over the malicious claims made by Tyna Marie Robertson.
The settlement was offered yesterday after he demonstrated before the California Supreme Court that the accusations were false, and part of a scheme to extort millions of dollars from him.
Today, Flatley said: "I am very pleased with the judgment awarded to me. Ms Robertson tried to extort money from me by spreading these lies and the Court sent a message that it will not tolerate these types of schemes."
Flatley was given permission last year to sue over the accusations. Robertson, a real estate agent, alleged the dancer had raped her in a Las Vegas hotel in October 2002. Her attorney, Dean Mauro, threatened to file a sexual assault lawsuit unless Flatley agreed to a "seven figures" settlement, according to court papers.
Flatley later said that he was told the sum of money, thought to be around $30 million (€20.5 million) was payment for keeping the rape allegation quiet.
When Flatley refused to pay, insisting the sex was consensual, and police declined to become involved because Robertson had declined to press charges against the dancer, Robertson filed a civil sexual assault lawsuit in Illinois, which was eventually dismissed.
Flatley countered the accusations saying he had been a victim of defamation, extortion and fraud. He said that his secretary sleeping in the next room heard no protests from Robertson, and that the next morning, she kissed him in front of the secretary and had a "relaxed and happy" breakfast with him, according to the court papers.
Flatley helped launch Riverdanceafter performing at the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. Four years later he left as a multi-millionaire to take his own Lord Of The Dance shows around the world.