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A Manitoba judge at the centre of a sex scandal says the lawsuit against her should be dismissed.

Madam Justice Lori Douglas has filed a statement of defence in which she disputes allegations that one of her husband's former clients was pressed to have sex with her.

Judge Douglas, her husband Jack King, and the Winnipeg law firm where they used to work as lawyers are being sued for $67-million by Alexander Chapman, a man who had previously hired Mr. King as a divorce lawyer.

Mr. Chapman alleges he was approached by Mr. King in 2003 and was asked to have sex with his wife. Mr. Chapman claims Mr. King showed him explicit photos of his wife and pointed him to a website that contained graphic images of her.

Mr. King's lawyer says his client was suffering from depression at the time and was acting without his wife's knowledge. Mr. King has already filed a countersuit, alleging Mr. Chapman is violating a 2003 confidential settlement in which Mr. King paid him $25,000 to return the photos and not talk about the matter.

Mr. Chapman, who didn't return the photos, has admitted to signing the agreement, but says he came forward this summer because he continues to feel victimized.

In her statement of defence, Judge Douglas lays out three arguments for dismissing the lawsuit, including a lack of a legal basis.

"The defendant says that the allegations fail to disclose a cause of action against her," reads the statement submitted by Judge Douglas's lawyer, Michael Green.

Mr. Green also argues the statute of limitations has been exceeded because the case dates back seven years. He also points to the 2003 confidential settlement, which he says was supposed to be the end of the matter.

"The ... action is therefore an abuse of process of the court," reads the statement of defence.

The dispute has led to court actions on several fronts, including a court order that Mr. Chapman's computer be seized to prevent him from sharing the explicit photos. Mr. Chapman has also filed a complaint with the Law Society of Manitoba against Mr. King, and a complaint with the Canadian Judicial Council against Judge Douglas.

Lawyers for Judge Douglas and Mr. King were to be in court on Wednesday to set a date for a hearing to have the lawsuit thrown out.

Judge Douglas was appointed to the Court of Queen's Bench in 2005. She has stepped down while the judicial council investigates, but is still performing administrative duties.

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