Judge says Michael Flatley can sue

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A California judge ruled "Riverdance" icon Michael Flatley can sue an Illinois lawyer for extortion for threats made over his client's rape claims.

Los Angeles Judge Paul Turner cleared the way for Flatley to file suit against D. Dean Mauro and Tyna Marie Robertson, a woman who last year accused Flatley of rape, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.

Robertson's civil rape suit was dismissed due to lack of evidence, with Flatley maintaining the sex was consensual.

At the time, Mauro, the woman's attorney, threatened Flatley in letters, often saying he would ruin the Irish-American dancer by taking the allegations public if Flatley did not pay his client $1 million.

"In addition to the threatened lawsuit and media exposure, Mr. Mauro threatened criminal prosecution or publication of defamatory matter about the rape as a means of obtaining leverage in the proposed civil action if 'seven figures' was not paid," Turner said in the ruling, adding Mauro's actions, in California, constituted extortion.