



Paula Corbin Jones (AP) Time Line Key events in the Jones v. Clinton lawsuit: May 6, 1994

Paula Jones files a civil suit against President Clinton in U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Ark., seeking $700,000 in 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. August 10, 1994

Clinton files a motion to dismiss Jones's suit on grounds of presidential immunity. December 28, 1994

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. January 17, 1995

Jones asks the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis to reverse the decision postponing a trial. February 24, 1995

Wright delays fact-finding in the case, pending a ruling by the appeals court. September 14, 1995

A three-judge appeals court panel hears Clinton's lawyers argue that allowing Jones's case to proceed while the president is in office would distract him from more important matters. Jones's lawyers argue she should have the same rights as anyone else bringing a lawsuit. January 9, 1996

The appeals panel rules 2 to 1 that Jones's lawsuit can go to trial. May 15, 1996

Clinton asks the Supreme Court to delay Jones's case until he leaves office. June 24, 1996

The Supreme Court agrees to consider whether Jones's lawsuit should be delayed until Clinton leaves office. The move puts the lawsuit on hold until after the November election. May 27, 1997

The Supreme Court rules the lawsuit can move ahead. August 22, 1997

Wright sets a May 27, 1998, trial date but dismisses the claim that Clinton defamed Jones. September 9, 1997

A federal judge allows Jones's lawyers to withdraw from the suit but directs that the case stay on course for the May trial date. December 8, 1997

Jones reduces the damages sought in her suit against Clinton to $525,000 and drops defamation claims against Clinton's co-defendant, former bodyguard Danny Ferguson. January 16, 1998

Whitewater independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr receives formal approval to expand his inquiry to investigate the possibility of subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice in the Jones case; Linda R. Tripp, confidant of former White House intern Monica S. Lewinsky, briefs Jones lawyers about an alleged sexual relationship betweeen Lewinsky and Clinton. (For more on the Lewinsky allegations, see the Clinton Accused special report and the Clinton Accused Time Line.) January 17, 1998

Clinton is questioned under oath by Jones's attorneys in the Washington office of his lawyer, Robert S. Bennett. January 29, 1998

U.S. District Judge Susan Webber Wright issues a ruling that excludes all evidence relating to former White House aide Monica S. Lewinsky from the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit against President Clinton because of the "inevitable effect of disrupting" Starr's investigation. February 17, 1998

Clinton's legal team files a motion asking Wright to throw out Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit, arguing that she has not proved she suffered career harm or serious emotional anguish. March 13, 1998

Arguing against the dismissal, Jones's attorneys file 700 pages of documents alleging that Clinton made advances at several women and took part in a "vast enterprise to suppress evidence." March 28, 1998

Jones's attorneys file documents, though no firsthand evidence, alleging Clinton raped a woman in the late 1970s. April 1, 1998

Federal District Judge Susan Webber Wright dismisses Jones's lawsuit, granting President Clinton's request for summary judgment in the case. April 16, 1998

A teary Jones announces she will appeal. "I believe what Mr. Clinton did to me was wrong," she says. July 31, 1998

Jones files her appeal. October 20, 1998

A federal appeals court hears arguments about the Jones appeal. November 13, 1998

President Clinton reaches an out-of-court settlement with Jones, agreeing to pay her $850,000 but acknowledging no wrongdoing. December 2, 1998

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismisses Jones's appeal in response to the settlement. Source: The Associated Press, washingtonpost.com staff reports

© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company

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