In Detroit, Dennis Rodman made a name for himself as a fierce defender. Post-NBA, the eccentric Rodman made headlines for such antics as sporting a wedding dress and a publicized fling with Madonna.
In Las Vegas, Rodman has developed an entirely different reputation, one as a troublemaker who regularly harasses and intimidates employees at hotel-casinos.
Sara Ure Robinson, 28, is apparently Rodman’s latest victim. A federal judge on Monday ordered Rodman to pay Robinson $225,000 for harassing her as she worked as a beverage manager at the Hard Rock Hotel three years ago.
Attorney Kathleen England was forced to request a default judgment against the one-time basketball sensation after he failed to respond to numerous complaints served against him.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jones took less than five minutes to render the judgment against Rodman, who did not appear at the brief hearing in downtown Las Vegas.
“Obviously, we have a need for the imposition of punitive damages,” Jones said.
England said she hopes the judgment sends a message to Rodman and convinces the 47-year-old that his behavior will no longer be tolerated.
“Hopefully, it will send a message to Dennis Rodman; you can’t come here and assault people without economic consequences,” England said. “I don’t know, does Dennis Rodman get messages?”
Rodman, who could not be reached for comment, does not appear to be bothered by the publicity he receives for negative news stories. On his Web site, he posted a newspaper account of how he was tossed from a Los Angeles hotel for harassing female guests.
It is difficult to determine how much Rodman has paid victims as a result of his Las Vegas antics — five of six other cases against him are sealed, according to court records. Rodman has been sued seven times for harassment in the past 12 years.
In 1997, Rodman was ordered to pay dealer James Brasich $80,000 after Brasich was assaulted at a craps table at the MGM Grand. According to court records, Rodman, situated next to Brasich at the craps table, rubbed the dealer’s balding head, chest and genitals during the game.
On four occasions in 1998, Rodman was sued for fondling the breasts of three cocktail waitresses and a security guard at the Las Vegas Hilton. In 1999, Rodman grabbed and broke a woman’s camera after she snapped pictures of him in the lobby of the MGM Grand. He also grabbed the woman’s arms, the complaint states.
“I’m amazed that any business establishment would allow people to come in and batter their employees,” England said.
On March 26, 2006, Robinson, a supervisor at Cuba Libre, a small lounge inside the Hard Rock, encountered Rodman as she was carrying boxes into the bar. Rodman asked whether he could help her and she politely declined, according to the complaint filed in federal court. Rodman then told Robinson she “looks good.” He later requested and was given a comp for $100 worth of shots. Rodman returned to the bar at about 4 p.m. and the bartender summoned Robinson because Rodman was “causing a scene,” according to the complaint.
“As Ms. Robinson was walking towards Cuba Libre, she saw Rodman throwing one dollar bills into the air and drawing a crowd,” the complaint states. He called for Robinson to come over to him, but she refused, believing that he was drunk.
Rodman made his way over to her and put his foot on the bar in front of her, the complaint states. He then grabbed Robinson, pulled her close and forced her to dance with him. When she finally escaped his grip, Rodman slapped her on her backside, according to the complaint. The incident occurred in front of Robinson’s employees and patrons.
Robinson declined to comment after the judge’s decision Monday.
“It was really humiliating,” England said. “She deals with drunks all the time; this was awful.”
England said the last step is to execute the order and obtain the money from Rodman.
Contact reporter Adrienne Packer at apacker@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710.�
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