New York, Aug 9 (IANS): The New York hotel maid accusing the former head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Kahn of attempted rape has filed a civil suit alleging a "sadistic attack" and seeking unspecified compensation.

Her move came as prosecutors deliberated whether to drop sex assault charges against Strauss-Kahn or take him to trial.

The 17-page court filing Monday alleged a "violent and sadistic attack" in the Manhattan Sofitel room where the maid Nafissatou Diallo went to clean Strauss-Kahn's luxury room on May 14, the New York Post reported

No specific amount of money was named in the suit, which referred only to "an award of damages in an amount to be determined at trial, plus prejudgment interest" and other unspecified compensation.

The suit requested a jury trial in the Bronx, a tough neighbourhood of New York where Diallo lives and where the local state court has a reputation for favouring victims in civil suits, the Post said.

The suit alleged "sexual assault, battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress upon Ms Diallo, whom he sexually assaulted as she attempted to do her job as a housekeeper."

Strauss-Kahn, the suit said, "intentionally, brutally and violently sexually assaulted Ms Diallo and in the process humiliated, degraded, violated and robbed Ms Diallo of her dignity as a woman."

The ensuing emotional and mental distress was such that "she may never recover."

Responding to the suit, lawyers for Strauss-Kahn, who until the scandal was planning to contest the French presidential election, said Diallo and her lead lawyer Kenneth Thompson were simply after their client's fortune."