Dion’s husband’s suit must go to arbitrator

Kim Smith

Monday, June 3, 2002 | 8:53 a.m.

Singer Celine Dion's husband, Rene Angelil, and the woman who is suing him over an alleged sexual assault must take their legal battle to California, for now.

District Judge Allan Earl ruled Friday that a California arbitrator should preside over the dispute between Yun Kyeong Sung Kwon and Angelil, who is also Dion's manager.

Earl's action does not dismiss the lawsuit filed by Kwon against Angelil in March, it only issues a stay.

Kwon alleges Angelil met her at Caesars Palace, followed her to the Imperial Palace and sexually assaulted her in March 2000.

The incident was not immediately reported to police, but the woman and her husband reached an agreement with Angelil in June 2000.

Angelil's attorney, Kirby Smith, had contended the agreement contains a clause that states the parties must settle any further disputes through the American Arbitration Association.

The woman's attorneys argued, however, that the agreement was with Angelil's company, Coliseum Corp., not Angelil.

In court documents, Kwon's attorneys, Joseph Hong and Michael Olsen, also contended their client "lacked the requisite mental capacity" to enter into such an agreement.

The pair said that after the alleged attack, Kwon was "terrified and petrified to a degree of a surreal state."

Hong and Olsen further allege Kwon and her husband were threatened and said they had the threats on audiotape. It is unclear who made the alleged threats.

Shortly after filing her lawsuit, Kwon was arrested on multiple felony charges of failing to repay markers totaling $500,000.

Kwon was released from the Clark County Detention Center after agreeing to make restitution to Harrah's.

Sung's husband, Ae H. Kwon, alleges that the charges were part of a conspiracy involving Angelil, the courts and the media to discredit him and his wife.

Dion and Angelil plan to move to Henderson before Dion starts a three-year engagement at Caesars Palace next March.