A sexual misconduct lawsuit against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson was dismissed, his attorney said Tuesday.
Watson, whom the Houston Police Department is investigating, was facing 22 civil lawsuits alleging similar sexual misconduct instances over the course of a year. One of his cases was dropped, his lawyer Rusty Hardin told the National Football League Network.
Judges ruled last week 14 of Watson’s accusers needed to reveal their identities in court filings, allowing Watson’s attorneys to respond and defend their client. The women’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, said all 22 planned to do so; 20 have so far, and one chose to dismiss her claim.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 14, 2021
“We believe we have names for 20 of the 22 lawsuits. We’ve got one dismissed and we’re looking for one (name),” Hardin said, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero.
Texas judges ruled on April 9 that several women alleging Watson of sexual misconduct in the lawsuits must refile their complaint documents with their names attached, the Houston Chronicle reported.
DESHAUN WATSON SEXUAL ABUSE ACCUSER IDENTIFIES HERSELF
Two women revealed their names on April 6, and more are expected to come forward, according to Tony Buzbee, a lawyer for the accusers. One of the accusers is Ashley Solis, the first to denounce Watson publicly.
“I am a survivor of assault and harassment. Deshaun Watson is my assaulter and my harasser. Deshaun Watson assaulted and harassed me on March 30, 2020, at my own home doing what I love most: massage therapy,” Solis said.
Hardin denied all the allegations leveled against Watson again Friday, saying it will come out that the 25-year-old athlete did engage in “consensual encounters” with some of the accusers.
“I can tell you from my clients’ perspectives THESE INTERACTIONS WERE NOT CONSENSUAL. ‘No’ means no. That’s all,” Buzbee said in an Instagram post.
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Watson has not been charged with a crime, though the Houston Police Department is investigating at least one complaint, and the NFL is looking into the cases.
