(CNN) — Citing intense media interest, the woman who has accused NBA star Kobe Bryant of sexually assaulting her has hired the attorney who represented the parents of slain child beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey. The 20-year-old woman hired Atlanta attorney Lin Wood to "address growing concerns regarding media coverage," her current attorney John Clune said Thursday. Wood has represented John and Patsy Ramsey, parents of JonBenet Ramsey, and Richard Jewell, the security guard who was initially suspected in a bombing in Atlanta during the 1996 Olympic Games. Clune said Wood has been retained to address the alleged victim's privacy rights and potential civil litigation related to privacy and media coverage.
The sexual assault case is scheduled to go to trial August 27 in Eagle, Colorado. Bryant is accused of forcing the woman, then 19, to have sex with him June 30, 2003, when he was staying at the resort where she worked. Bryant, who is married and has a young daughter, has admitted to a sexual encounter with the woman, but said it was consensual. On Wednesday, the Eagle County, Colorado, prosecutor and Clune filed court papers opposing a request by the media to allow cameras in the courtroom during the trial. In a strongly worded response to a motion from several media organizations filed June 30, the prosecution said having cameras present will gravely affect "the right to a fair trial, the solemnity, decorum and dignity of the proceedings and have adverse effects beyond the normal media coverage." (Background) Clune said in his filing that cameras should not be allowed because the alleged victim will "testify regarding extremely sensitive and at times offensive and degrading behavior." "Mass television coverage of this case would further victimize this 20-year-old woman," the documents said. Attorneys for Bryant have not yet responded to the media motion, which was filed last week by Court TV on behalf of all the television media covering the case. In its request, Court TV told the judge that "this case is one of national interest due to the high-profile position of the defendant as a major sports figure." The cable network says in its filing that it will use a new technology to cover the trial, one which will "edit out the alleged victim's name, but which will necessitate a broadcast delay of approximately one hour." An additional request has been filed on behalf of print media to allow still cameras in the courtroom. It is not known when Judge Terry Ruckriegle will rule on these requests. | 
