Jones' lawsuit chronology

Key events in Paula Corbin Jones' sexual harassment case against President Clinton:
1994
May 6: Jones files a civil suit against Clinton in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. She seeks damages for "willful, outrageous and malicious conduct" at the Excelsior Hotel in Little Rock on May 8, 1991. Her court papers accuse Clinton of "sexually harassing and assaulting" her, then defaming her with denials.
Aug. 10: Clinton files a motion to dismiss Jones' suit on grounds of presidential immunity.
Dec. 28: U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright rules that a trial cannot take place until Clinton leaves office. But she also rules that fact-finding procedures such as taking sworn statements can proceed.
1995
Jan. 17: Jones asks the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to reverse the decision postponing a trial.
Feb. 24: Judge Wright delays fact-finding in the case, pending a ruling by the appeals court.
Sept. 14: A three-judge appeals court panel hears Clinton's lawyers argue that allowing Jones' case to proceed while the president is in office would distract him from more important matters. Jones' lawyers argue she should have the same rights as anyone else bringing a lawsuit.
1996
Jan. 9: The appeals panel rules 2-1 that Jones' lawsuit can go to trial.
May 15: Clinton asks the Supreme Court to delay Jones' case until he leaves office.
June 24: The Supreme Court agrees to consider whether Jones' lawsuit should be delayed until Clinton leaves office. The move puts the lawsuit on hold until after the November election.
1997
May 27: The Supreme Court rules the lawsuit can move ahead.
Aug. 22: Judge Wright sets a May 27, 1998, trial date but dismisses the claim that Clinton defamed Jones.
Sept. 9: A federal judge allows Jones' lawyers to withdraw from the suit but directs that the case stay on course for the May trial date.
Dec. 8: Jones reduces the damages sought in her suit against Clinton and drops defamation claims against Clinton's co-defendant, former bodyguard Danny Ferguson.
1998
Jan. 7: Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky signs an affidavit for Jones' attorneys in which she says she never had a sexual relationship with Clinton.
Jan. 16: Whitewater Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr gets permission from a three-judge federal panel to expand his investigation of the Clinton's business dealings to include whether an effort was made to suborn a false statement from Lewinsky.
Jan. 17: Clinton is questioned by Jones' attorneys for six hours in Bennett's Washington law office.
Feb. 17: Clinton's lawyers file a motion in Little Rock asking Judge Wright again to dismiss Jones' suit, arguing in 442 pages of documents that her attorneys failed to produce evidence supporting crucial legal elements of her complaint.
March 13: Arguing against the dismissal motion, Jones' attorneys file documents with the court alleging that Clinton made sexual advances against several women and took part in a "vast enterprise to suppress evidence" in the case.

This article was published on Saturday, March 14, 1998

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