Judge drops restraining order, says Nugget no threat to girlfriend

By Felix Doligosa Jr.
Rocky Mountain News
October 19, 2005

An Arapahoe County judge dismissed a restraining order Tuesday against Denver Nuggets basketball player Andre Miller after ruling that he did not pose a threat to an ex-girlfriend.

Magistrate Edward Burns Jr. closed the case after determining that Jade Payne, who requested a restraining order Sept. 26, had repeated contact with Miller since then.

Miller's attorney, Dan Recht, gave the court copies of what he said was a text message from the 27-year-old woman seeking $100,000 from Miller after she alleged he had threatened her.

Both sides acknowledged that the dispute started with the decision to end the relationship. Miller, 29, and Payne had been dating for two years and were living in the same home in Centennial, Recht said. The couple broke up while staying at Miller's home in California over the summer, Recht said.

In her temporary restraining order request, Payne alleged that Miller was verbally abusive over the phone, according to court documents.

Miller's attorney on Wednesday accused Payne of trying to "extort" money from Miller.

Miller said he had "no comment" on the case when contacted following a team practice Tuesday afternoon.

Payne Wednesday declined to comment about the case on the advice of her attorney.

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