CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing a new lawsuit accusing the 28-year-old of sexual assault and battery, plus intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The lawsuit, first reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, comes from a plaintiff identified as "Jane Doe" who says Watson assaulted her as the two were slated to go on a date on Oct. 10, 2020, while Watson was a member of the Houston Texans. 3News has also received a copy of the lawsuit, which can be read below.
In the suit, the plaintiff accuses Watson of the following after he arrived at her apartment (WARNING: The below contains content of a graphic and explicit nature):
- Finding Watson "completely naked on her bed, lying face-down on his stomach. While Jane Doe stood there in shock, Watson turned his head and aggressively insisted that she massage him, gesturing to his buttocks. Jane Doe asked if Watson meant he wanted her to massage his back, but Watson indicated that it was his buttocks he wanted massaged."
- "Doe thus tried to appease Watson by rubbing his back, rather than his buttocks. Watson began insisting, again, that she focus on his glutes. Seemingly frustrated that Doe would only rub his back, Watson then turned over, revealing an erection. Watson continued to demand that Jane Doe massage him, gesturing from his knees to his groin. Jane Doe froze in fear, unsure of how to refuse Watson’s advances without jeopardizing her safety."
- "Watson grabbed Jane Doe’s leg and positioned her so that she was lying down. Watson then partially disrobed Jane Doe and penetrated her vagina without consent, implicit or explicit. Jane Doe felt paralyzed, unsure if she should risk her safety by trying to stop Watson or endure his assault. Watson roughly sexually assaulted Jane Doe for several minutes in a 'missionary position' before grabbing her and flipping her over. Watson continued to assault Doe aggressively from behind. Jane Doe finally gathered the courage and strength to escape Watson. Jane Doe quickly ran to her dresser to grab a heavy piece of décor for self-defense, and yelled at Watson [to] get out of her apartment. Enraged, Watson stormed out of Jane Doe's apartment."
The lawsuit is seeking damages of more than $1 million, plus "pre-and post-judgment interest at the maximum legal rate, costs of court, punitive damages, and any other relief to which Plaintiff may be justly entitled."
As Florio points out, "the statute of limitations for most personal injury cases is two years. In Texas, a five-year window applies because the case expressly alleges sexual assault."
Watson has been accused of multiple incidents of sexual misconduct, including harassment and assault, since 2021. While a pair of Texas grand juries declined to indict the three-time Pro Bowler on criminal charges, a total of 26 women filed civil lawsuits against Watson. One of the lawsuits was dropped, while Watson settled 23 of the cases during the summer of 2022, just months after being traded from the Texans to the Browns.
Following an investigation, the National Football League found Watson in violation of its personal conduct policy in the summer of 2022. The two sides agreed to a settlement of an 11-game suspension and a $5 million fine.
The plaintiff of the most recent lawsuit is being represented by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented all but one of the plaintiffs in the previous suits filed against Watson.
3News' Lynna Lai reached out to Buzbee and received the following statement:
"This is an extremely serious matter. We intend to pursue this case with the same aggressiveness with which we pursued the others. We want a jury trial. As far as any specific comments on the facts of the case, we believe the lawsuit speaks for itself."
We also reached out to the Browns, who released the following statement on Tuesday per the Associated Press:
“We will respect the due process our legal system affords regarding the recently filed civil suit and follow the NFL’s guidelines on this matter."
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy gave the following statement on Watson to Aaron Wilson of Houston NBC affiliate KPRC:
"We are reviewing the complaint and we will look into the matter under the Personal Conduct Policy. Not looking at Commissioner’s Exempt list as there’s been no formal charges and the league’s review has just begun."
On Wednesday, Rusty Hardin, attorney for Watson, released the below statement:
“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations in the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday.
We have asked him not to comment further while this matter works its way through the courts, but are comfortable he will ultimately be vindicated.
We will be ready to defend this case in court at the appropriate time, but don’t intend to conduct our defense in the media. We would ask that people be patient while the legal process runs its course.
In the meantime, Deshaun is going to focus his energy and concentration on football.”