Tila Tequila to Sue NFL Star After D.A. Drops Case
Tila Tequila arrives at the 22nd annual ASCAP Awards in June 2009 in Beverly Hills.; Shawne Merriman attends the BET Awards Late Night After Party in Los Angeles.
Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage;Chelsea Lauren/WireImage
Less than a week after Tila Tequila accused her boyfriend, San Diego Chargers' linebacker Shawne Merriman, of choking her, the San Diego District Attorney's office announced they closed the case due to insufficient evidence.
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"After a throrough review of the investigation into the Sept. 5, 2009 incident at the Poway home of Shawne Merriman, our office has determine there is insufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any crime was commited," San Diego Country District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis said in a statement Friday. "This case is now closed. No further comment will be made."
The 27-year-old reality star (real name: Tila Nguyen), however, believes "justice has not been served" and plans to pursue civil charges.
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"Tila Tequila is the victim of a violent crime," her rep said in a statement obtained by TMZ.com. "The San Diego District attorney's decision not to press charges against Shawne Merriman for the battering of Tila Tequila demonstrates an unconscionable negligence in the discharging of their public duties. We strongly feel that justice has not been served in this matter.
"Obviously, The San Diego Charger's NFL franchise brings millions of dollars in revenue to the city of San Diego, and it seems clear that other interests are being served by the DA's office than the upholding of the law. A young woman was violently beaten and choked, and the physical evidence is both overwhelming and disturbing. Tila's account of the events has remained consistent from the beginning, while Merriman's story has changed repeatedly.
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"Just because the DA has made this reckless decision doesn't mean that justice will not be served in this case. No one is above the law. Tila Tequila will immediately begin pursuing civil charges against Mr. Merriman and she will have her day in court."
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43Tila is a D-Lister.... Her time in the lime light has passed. I've always known her as a loud mouth everywhere she goes. She Can't hold down any friendships or relationships. I am sure she instigated the events and he was just trying to look out for her. She's garbage
She must be out of money, thats why she is trying to sue shawn
He got what he had coming for messing with a piece of confused left over ground beef yuck he better go get tested for EVERYTHING !!!!
Slut out for money and her 15 minutes of fame!!
I don't know what's more shocking, this incident or that Shawn was dating Tila Tequila?
Its his fault for even hooking up with this tramp. Men are so dirty sometimes its not even funny. You hook up with dirty you're gonna get dirty.
Anne: Well said. However, since she had a "show" which highlighted her "indiscretions" I doubt she'll find ANYTHING "too embarrassing" to air in a trial. As a San Diego native resident, I do hope the Sheriff's Department brings charges against her for a false report and that Merriman will sue her for defamation of character. If he'd done to her what she claims, his 275 lbs would have seriously damaged her 90 lbs. She's just gross, money- and attention-hungry. Crawl back into the toilet you came out of, girl.
Oh whatever, she is just crazy and was so drunk she didn't know what was happending. I don't believe this h0
She's just in this for the $$. If there were ANY choke marks the DA would press charges against him! She's an idiot for not admitting she was drinking (we all know she can knock a few back, at least those that watched her "show".) She's going to be the one who loses in the end.
Wow didn't see this one.....durr of coarse she is going to sue.....unfortunately she is down playing domestic violence she was the victim of what again....a spat and being restrained by her lover while "not intoxicated" hello Tila we all saw your VH1 show and umm yes you do drink...I am allergic to ETOH and well you umm are not...it is a serious allergy and very rare to have...your nose is growing...
I ain't saying she's a gold digger..........but, she is. She AND her attorney's are repulsive.
She will be slaughtered in court so have fun Tila. SHe is a whore and was already twittering yesterday about looking for a date to keep her warm and kiss blah blah blah. They will get a hold of all of this and she will be raked over the coals. Where are her neck bruises? She is making this whole thing up and how dare she insult the San Diego DA? they dont give a rats ass about football players, they are there to make sure justice is served. Tila, be prepared to be shredded in court. Tila, if you act like a whore in your life, continue to be treated like one sweetheart. No one, especially men, respect anything about you. Go away.
3:08pm Anonymous: Not true, if someone was choked then there would be pressed marks. I'm just not cool with Tila denying she was drinking. Hmmm...let's see, she is denying it because that would make Merriman and the witnesses version of what happen that night completely plausible. Hey, can't stop a drunk naked chick from leaving the house without using a little force. Regardless of whether she was white or whatever, Shawn Merriman would have done the same. The San Diego DA has closed the case, hopefully you Tila fans can too.
6:22pm Anonymous: You are right. Merriman can sue her for defamation and the city can actually arrest her for making false statements. Never thought about that.
The only problem with Civil Suits, unlike criminal trials, there are no rules regarding attacking the victims character or lifestyle. I'm not saying it is fair but neither Tila or her lawyer can stop Merriman's legal team from attacking her party/reality/sex persona. For example, the civil lawsuit against Kobe Bryant was dropped due to the no-holds-barred information Kobe's legal team were going to uncover regarding the victims sexual history. It was apparently too embarrassing for her so she decided not to go through with it. Not to mention Tila's inability to admit she was drinking the night of the alleged incident. The sheriffs report clearly indicates Tila was in-fact intoxicated. Tila has to come clean and stop covering up one lie after another. If the rumors are true regarding what happen that night then she needs to take responsibility for her part in the altercation and stop attacking Shawn Merriman's character. I'm sorry to all the Tila fans but there is too much evidence that she is actually lying. So sad.
Of course she will be suing that's all this was about anyway. She's trash and while I don't agree with domestic violence I believe she is lying and only in it for the fame and money.
Who would believe anything she says? She lied about her own grandmother dying the day after this 'incident' as a way to seek attention (yet again) and sympathy..and it turned out to be another LIE..shame on you Tila!
She claims she is allegic to alcohol for several years, but anyone who had seen her show knows she obviously wasn't. She could have been definitely drunk that night, and Merriman could have been helping her.
Your 15 minutes are up Skank, time to move on..
Umm,,duh, she's so dumb..she needs to stop already!!!