Shaquille O'Neal suffers new setback in lawsuit from former girlfriend, Vanessa Lopez

Shaquille suffered another legal setback in a lawsuit that was filed against the NBA star by his alleged former mistress, Vanessa Lopez.

Lopez previously filed a lawsuit against O'Neal for assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and other claims. Lopez says Shaq started harassing her shortly after she told him she thought she was pregnant. Shaq initially accused her of sleeping with someone else, then when she broke off their relationship, she claims the threats began.

Shaq tried to get the lawsuit dismissed, but was denied. The court documents state, "Defendant's motion to dismiss count 1 for assault is denied, defendant's motion to dismiss count II for intentional infliction of emotional distress is denied."

The judge did dismiss the invasion of privacy element of the lawsuit.

In the suit, Lopez claims a number of scary incidents including a threatening text that Shaq allegedly sent to a friend of his saying, "dis is da numba shut dat b*tch up!"

Lopez says the friend responded with a text saying, "consider it done famo." The friend then jumped on a plane to Orlando, Florida, and allegedly texted Lopez before calling her on her cell, sounding "menacing and sinister."

In the papers, Lopez claims that Shaq's family was in on the intimidation act too, making her fear for her safety. Lopez claims Shaq's 6'6" and 6'8" sisters made verbal and physical threats against her.

Lopez is seeking unspecified damages.