Padres' outfielder Brian Giles released a statement Tuesday, denying allegations made in a civil lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend Cheri Olvera. Court documents filed on December 5 accuse Giles of physical abuse and seek $10 million in damages.
"I categorically deny each and every allegation of the complaint for palimony. This is all about money," Giles is quoted as saying in statement released by his attorney James Scott Tuesday. Read the entire statement.
Scott defended his client to the North County Times Monday saying Giles has numerous witnesses to help him fight the lawsuit.
Attorney Scott says it is "unfortunate" that a video is circulating that shows Giles physically confronting Olvera in a Phoenix, Arizona bar more than two years ago. Giles was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic violence, but the charge was dismissed after he attended a 30-hour anger management course, his lawyer said.
Scott says Giles denies that he repeatedly abused his former girlfriend. "There's a genuine defense here," Scott told the North County Times. "Unfortunately, there's this one incident in Arizona, and Brian dealt with it like a man. That's the high and low of it."
Scott also said the former girlfriend was at least partly to blame for the couple's problems. "(Olvera) is very nasty and very aggressive. Witnesses saw her hitting him and pulling his hair. We have documented evidence and a lot of nasty voice mails."
Giles initially refused to comment publicly on the allegations in his ex-girlfriend's lawsuit, or his arrest in Phoenix on August 27, 2006. But Giles issued a statement Tuesday addressing the arrest. "There was an incident in Phoenix which I regret. I want the team and the fans of baseball to know that I am sorry it happened. I addressed the problem and the case was dismissed by the court," the statement reads.
Giles also addressed the allegation that he beat Olvera while she was carrying his child. "At no time did I hit, kick or push plaintiff so that it caused her to miscarry," the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Olvera's lawyer repeated his claim that Giles abused his former girlfriend. "Brian severely beat Cheri on many occasions," Cary Goldstein, Olvera's attorney told the North County Times. "She's a severely abused woman... We're going to show who Brian Giles is."
