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Dominique Strauss-Kahn Sues Maid Who Accused Him Of Sexual Assault

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Dominique Strauss-Kahn is striking back against the New York City hotel maid who accused him of sexual assault with a $1 million countersuit.

The disgraced French politician and former head of the International Monetary Fund said in court papers filed Monday that Nafissatou Diallo made a "malicious and wanton false accusation" when she said he assaulted her one year ago.

The criminal case against Strauss-Kahn was dismissed after prosecutors lost faith in Diallo's credibility. She then filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of assault.

"It should come as no surprise that Mr. Strauss-Kahn is asserting claims against Ms. Diallo for her false allegations against him," said Straus-Kahn's attorney William W. Taylor III. "She is directly responsible for his being arrested, imprisoned, and subjected to extraordinary pain, anguish and expense. Her conduct is not without consequence for her and he is not required to simply endure what she did and her effort to profit for herself without fighting back."

A judge this month rebuffed Strauss-Kahn's claim that he had diplomatic immunity.

Diallo says Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her when she arrived to clean his Manhattan hotel suite. Strauss-Kahn has denied doing anything violent.

Diallo's lawyer calls the countersuit a "desperate ploy" and says he's says he's confident it "will be swiftly rejected."

(TM and © Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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