Padres React to Abuse Allegations Against Giles

The Padres released a statement regarding a $10 million lawsuit filed against outfielder Brian Giles.

Giles ex-girlfriend Cheri Olvera is suing him for $10 million in damages, alleging, among other things, that he  beat her while she  was pregnant.

On Wednesday, Padres C.E.O Sandy Alderson issued a statement regarding the suit:

"The Padres have recently learned of a lawsuit filed against Brian Giles by his former girlfriend alleging, among other things, abusive behavior by Brian.  While we will not comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, abusive behavior in any form, by any member of the Padres organization, against anyone, violates the basic values of the Padres organization and is not condoned.

“The Padres, and its employee assistance program, are committed to the elimination of all forms of abuse, including abuse against women. We will continue to monitor the lawsuit as it proceeds.” $(document).ready(function(){ $('#jqm_wrp_2') .jqDrag('.jqDrag') .jqm({ trigger: '#storyMedia2', ajax: 'http://www.nbcsandiego.com/i/dispatcher/?command=LoadVideo&id=36296424&seq=1', target: '#jqm_cont_2', overlay: 0, onShow: function(h) {h.w.css('opacity',1).fadeIn("fast");}, onHide: function(h) {h.w.fadeOut("fast",function() { if(h.o) h.o.remove(); }); } }); });

When contacted about the lawsuit and asked for a comment, Giles' agent Joe Bick replied he had "none whatsoever." Bick did promise a reply to the lawsuit in the future.

The suit was made public on Tuesday. On the same day, Cheri Olvera's lawyer released surveillance video of an incident in August 2006 in which Giles is allegedly seen assaulting her. 

NBC contacted Giles' attorney's firm and were told they had no comment about the case.

In court documents NBCSanDiego.com obtained Tuesday, Olvera alleges Giles failed to uphold an oral agreement made six years ago to take care of her financially.

The couple met in Houston in 2001 and began dating sometime in 2002. Sometime around September 2002, Olvera claims Giles asked her to sell her home and furniture and move in with him in Pittsburgh when he was playing with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Olvera claims she and her daughter were requested by Giles to follow the right-fielder to San Diego when he started playing for the Padres. The couple rented a home in La Jolla while they looked to buy a home to share in San Diego.

Around December 2005, they got engaged. Even though the engagement was called off, court papers claim the couple maintained a “marriage-like relationship” until about April 2008.

“Beginning in 2002 and throughout the course of the parties’ long-term cohabiting relationship, the defendant conducted a continuing course of abusive conduct, including acts of emotional, verbal and physical domestic violence…” according to court documents.

The most serious of the allegations involve Olvera’s pregnancies. The lawsuit accuses Giles of hitting and slapping Olvera in the face, shaking and kicking her, and battering her twice when she was pregnant with Giles' child.

Olvera's attorney Cary W. Goldstein said Giles physically abused Olvera while she was pregnant in 2002, but he said his client doesn't blame Giles for her miscarriage in that pregnancy. Goldstein said Olvera became pregnant again, this time in early 2008, and that his client claims Giles threw her down a hallway, causing her to miscarry. 

Giles is in the final year of his Padres contract. He's scheduled to make $9 million in 2009, but the team is rumored to be attempting to trade him.

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