Three lawsuits against former basketball star resolved without trials

Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000 | 9:27 a.m.

A hearing in cocktail waitress Susan Patterson's suit against Rodman had been scheduled in Superior Court on Tuesday. But her attorney, Gloria Allred, said the suit had been resolved, along with those of two other people Allred represented.

The attorney declined to give any details of how the cases were resolved, and would not say if any of the plaintiffs received monetary settlements. Attempts to reach Rodman's attorney Michael Harrison for comment on the cases were unsuccessful.

Patterson claimed that late on the night of Oct. 2, 1998, Rodman pushed a $100 bill down her blouse and grabbed one of her breasts.

Bridgette Chaker's suit claimed that a short time later, early on Oct. 3, she was invited to a party at a room in the Argyle Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. But when she arrived only Rodman was there, she claimed, and he sexually assaulted her.

The third suit was brought by Jason Sandeman of Santa Monica, who claimed he was assaulted by Rodman at a Fatburger restaurant in Los Angeles Jan. 21, 1999, Allred said.

Another case of alleged assault by Rodman was dropped in November in Las Vegas. A Las Vegas woman, Dixie Johnson, 48, claimed Rodman grabbed one of her breasts at the Las Vegas Hilton in April 1999. A notice of dismissal was filed in U.S. District Court, but Rodman's attorney Gregory Hafen would not say if a settlement had been reached.

Two months ago Rodman and actress Carmen Electra, who were married Nov. 14, 1998, were ordered by a Miami Beach, Fla., judge to stay away from each other following their arrest at a hotel on battery charges, which were later dropped.

Rodman's most recent arrest was for investigation of drunken driving Dec. 22 in Costa Mesa. The 38-year-old former NBA rebounding champion posted $2,500 bond and was released.

Rodman was let go by the Los Angeles Lakers last April after spending a tumultuous seven weeks with the team - at first helping them to win 10 straight games but later missing several games and practices.

Rodman led the NBA in rebounding seven years and played on league championship teams twice with the Detroit Pistons and three times with the Chicago Bulls.