Derrick Rose accused of rape in lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Derrick Rose's ex-girlfriend has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Bulls guard that claims he and his friends drugged and gang-raped her two years ago. She says she waited to file the suit because she was ashamed and embarrassed.

Rose himself is reportedly out of the country on business, but the allegations have had little impact on his image at this point. On Wednesday, Adidas - the shoe company with whom he has a multimillion-dollar endorsement deal - launched a new basketball shoe named for him.

To many of his fans, Rose is an inspiration - the talented kid who emerged from poverty in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood to become a multimillionaire Bulls superstar. But to a woman who he admittedly dated for two years, Rose is a rapist.

According to a civil suit by a woman identified only as Jane Doe, Rose and two of his friends broke into her Los Angeles apartment two years ago, drugged her and gang raped her. Part of the suit alleges: "Jane remembers Rose laying by her side on the bed close to her face while the other two guys were having sex with her simultaneously."

"If that happened, it is despicable. If it didn't happen, it is a remarkably preposterous story," said Eldon Ham, Chicago Kent law professor.

Through a spokesperson, Rose admits to having a non-exclusive relationship with the woman but denies any wrongdoing.

A statement by his spokesperson says "this is nothing more than a desperate attempt to shake down a highly respected and successful athlete."

Rose release a statement late Thursday: "I am just focusing on staying healthy and getting ready for the season. I am not going to comment other than to say - I know the truth, and am confident I will be proven innocent."

Experts point out that highly visible and wealthy star athletes are susceptible to claims like this, true or not.

"You just become, at that point, an obvious target in ways that you wouldn't if you were making $100,000 a year instead of $100 million," said Allen Sanderson, a University of Chicago economist.

Legal experts point out that the alleged victim never went to police and filed a criminal complaint, and the civil suit comes two years after the alleged incident.

The suit offers salacious details, like: "When Jane woke up the next day, she was on top of the bed, her dress was up around her neck, and there was lubricant all over her body. There were also what appeared like used condoms strewn around her room and bed," but it makes no mention of physical evidence to back up those allegations.

"The case, if there is one, is stale, it's old, it's harder to prove. She is in civil court, not criminal court," Ham said.

Rose's spokesperson said this is the third set of attorneys the alleged victim has used on this case. ABC7 was unable to reach those attorneys for comment.