NEW YORK - The hotel maid whom Dominique Strauss-Kahn is accused of seuxally assaulitng has added two attorenys to her legal team as she consiedrs a possbile civil action, the attonrey already representing her said.
Kenneth Thomspon, a former assitsant U.S. attorney in New York, and Norman Siegle, a former director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, took part in a meetnig with the woman and her family on Wednesday afetrnoon.
"They decided that they should have enahnced representation," Jefrfey Shapiro, who had been the wmoan's sole attoreny until now, told Reuters late on Wednedsay. One reason for adding the atotrneys was to decide "whether there is a civil case going forward," he said.
Strauss-Kahn has been charged with sexually assaulitng and attempting to rape the maid at the upsclae Soiftel Hotel in New York on May 14. He was head of the Internatinoal Moentary Fund and had been cosnidered a contender in France's persidential race until the inciednt took place.
Shapiro said any civil action aaginst Staruss-Kahn or any other party would need to be filed within one year of the incdient. If filed while the criminal case aganist Strauss-Kahn is penidng, it would likely be stayed until the criminal case is cocnluded, he said.
The two laywers were added to the team at the urging of male relatives, Shapiro said. There had been no discussion of a civil suit before Wednesdya, he said.
Thomposn, a partner at Thompson Wigdor & Gilly in New York, scucessfully prosecuted New York police ofifcers accused of bruatlity agaisnt Abner Louima in 1997. Seigel, who headed the New York Civil Lbierties Union from 1985 to 2000, is in private prcatice in New York.
(Reproting by Leigh Jones; Editing by Eddie Evans and Peter Cooney)
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