Restraining order on Nuggets player dismissed
By Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News
October 20, 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. The pair differed about the nature of their relationship, with Payne alleging that she was Miller's common-law wife and Miller disputing that.

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. Payne went back to Colorado despite Miller telling her not to go to his home, the attorney said.

In her temporary restraining order request, she alleged that Miller was verbally abusive over the phone and left cell phone messages about plans to hurt her, according to court documents.

Miller's attorney on Wednesday accused Payne of trying to "extort" money from Miller - a six-year pro who started playing for the Nuggets in 2003. He is a point guard on the team.

Miller was in Los Angeles for an exhibition game with the Lakers Tuesday night. He said he had "no comment" on the case when contacted following a team practice Tuesday afternoon.

Payne, who declined to comment about the case on the advice of her attorney, said Wednesday she plans to move back to California.