ORLANDO, Fla. – Judge Lisa Munyon on Thursday denied a motion from the Casey Anthony defense team to dismiss the civil lawsuit that has been filed against her by Zenaida Gonzalez, the woman who says Anthony defamed her.
The case will proceed toward a start date of January after Munyon ruled there are enough questions about a Zenaida Gonzalez. Munyon said a jury, not a judge should decide the case.
Gonzalez shares a similar name as a fictitious baby sitter -- Zenaida Fernandez Gonzalez -- whom Anthony initially said kidnapped her 2-year-old daughter in 2008. At Anthony's murder trial last summer, Anthony's defense claimed Caylee drowned in the family's swimming pool and, therefore, had not been abducted. Caylee's remains were found in December 2008.
Anthony was acquitted of murder charges in July 2011 but was found guilty of lying to authorities.
Munyon also ruled that Anthony's statements to police about the fictitious babysitter cannot be used. She denied the Gonzalez legal team's request for a summary judgment before the trial.
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