Attorney Sanford Rubenstein Files Civil Suit Against Woman Who Made Rape Claims

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Prominent New York City civil rights attorney Sanford Rubenstein has filed a civil defamation lawsuit against a woman who accused him of rape.

According to court papers filed in state Supreme Court in Brooklyn on Monday, the suit is against a member of Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network who claimed Rubenstein assaulted her.

Last month, the Manhattan District Attorney's office announced no criminal charges would be filed in the case.

The 70-year-old attorney was accused of raping the woman in his Upper East Side home hours after Sharpton's 60th birthday party last October. The woman alleged that at the apartment, Rubenstein had sex with her when she was too intoxicated to give consent or even remember.

Rubenstein told police through his attorney that the sex with the woman was consensual.

Rubenstein's lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement the counter claim is about principle, not money.

Attorneys for the woman didn't immediately return a message.

Rubenstein's list of clients includes Abner Louima and the families of Eric Garner and Sean Bell. The accusation prompted him to withdraw from representing Garner's family.

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