02/09/26 05:54:00
Printable Page
02/09 17:53 CST Last lawsuits against Browns QB Deshaun Watson over massages
are dismissed
Last lawsuits against Browns QB Deshaun Watson over massages are dismissed
By JUAN A. LOZANO
Associated Press
HOUSTON (AP) --- The final two of nearly 30 civil lawsuits that Cleveland
Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson had faced from women accusing him of sexual
misconduct have been dismissed, according to court records.
The dismissal of these two lawsuits clears Watson of legal problems he had been
facing since 2021 after 27 women came forward and accused him in court filings
in Texas of exposing himself, touching them with his genitals or kissing them
against their will, mostly during massage appointments.
Some of the women alleged Watson, 30, forced them to perform oral sex and one
woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.
The dismissals come as both lawsuits had been set to go to trial in the next
few weeks. The accusations against Watson were made when he played for the
Houston Texans.
It is believed that Watson has no other lawsuits pending in connection with the
sexual misconduct allegations.
One of the lawsuits that was dismissed on Friday has been settled, said Tony
Buzbee, the attorney for the woman who had filed it. Buzbee declined to comment
further, citing confidentiality of the settlement agreement. Buzbee's client
alleged Watson touched her with his penis multiple times during a massage
session.
It was not immediately known if the other dismissed lawsuit had also been
settled. Anissah Nguyen, an attorney for the woman who filed the lawsuit,
didn't immediately respond to an email or call seeking comment. Nguyen's client
had accused Watson of pressuring her to perform oral sex during a massage.
Watson's attorneys declined to comment.
Watson, who was traded to the Browns in March 2022, has long denied any
wrongdoing, and two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict him. One of
his attorneys, Rusty Hardin, had previously said the allegations against Watson
were "meritless."
"I don't remember or recall any sexual encounters with her," Watson said in a
2023 deposition he gave while being questioned about the woman represented by
Nguyen.
The woman represented by Nguyen had also sued the Houston Texans, alleging
Watson had assaulted women with the help and resources of the team. The lawsuit
against the Texans was also dismissed last week.
A spokesperson for the Texans didn't immediately respond to an email seeking
comment.
In July 2022, 30 women who had accused the Texans of turning a blind eye to
allegations against their former star quarterback settled their legal claims
against the team.
It was not unusual that all the cases against Watson were settled, said David
Ring, a California-based attorney who is not connected to the lawsuits and who
has represented victims of sexual assault. He said the majority of civil
lawsuits are typically resolved before going to trial and that high-profile
defendants typically don't want cases to play out in a public courtroom.
"He's trying to put all of this behind him," Ring said.
Watson's legal problems began after dozens of women claimed to have been the
victims of sexual misconduct or assault between 2017 and 2020.
Most of the lawsuits against Watson were settled in 2022.
Following the allegations, Watson was suspended for the first 11 games in 2022
for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
Watson was also fined $5 million and underwent a mandatory evaluation before
being reinstated by the league. He has played in only 19 games for the Browns
due to the NFL suspension and injuries.
___
Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70
|
