Woman sues singer Dion’s husband

Friday, March 22, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

A Los Angeles woman has sued Rene Angelil, husband-manager of singer Celine Dion, claiming he raped her in March 2000 in her room at the Imperial Palace.

The woman sued Angelil, his company Coliseum Corp. and the Imperial Palace last week.

The woman, in a Clark County District Court lawsuit, said she was gambling at Caesars Palace when she was approached by Angelil. She claims he followed her across the street to the Imperial Palace even after she repeatedly rejected his alleged advances. She said Angelil forced intercourse and oral sex "in a quick, vicious and violent manner."

She alleged he threatened to kill her "if (his) wife (found) out about this" and allegedly had her and her husband followed after they began consulting attorneys after the alleged incident.

The woman, who did not report the incident to police, said several attorneys she consulted seemed afraid of Angelil and his attorneys. She said she entered into a settlement under "severe mental distress" in June 2000 with Coliseum after it allegedly promised that Angelil would apologize for his actions and provide medical proof that he wasn't infected with HIV or hepatitis at the time of the alleged rape.

But the woman now wants court approval to rescind the alleged June 2000 settlement because Angelil allegedly failed to provide the apology and medical proof.

She also accused Imperial Palace of failing to provide adequate security, failing to investigate the incident, failing to preserve evidence and failing to find out if she was injured and needed medical attention.

The defendants could not be reached for comment on the woman's allegations.