Thirty ladies who had accused the Houston Texans of turning a blind eye to allegations that their former star quarterback Deshaun Watson was sexually assaulting and harassing ladies throughout therapeutic massage periods have settled their authorized claims in opposition to the staff, their legal professional stated Friday.
The phrases of the settlements between every of the ladies and the Texans are confidential, stated legal professional Tony Buzbee.
Whereas solely one of many ladies had filed a lawsuit in opposition to the staff, the others supposed to make authorized claims in opposition to the Texans earlier than the settlements had been reached, Buzbee stated.
In separate lawsuits, 24 ladies accused Watson of exposing himself, touching them together with his penis or kissing them in opposition to their will throughout therapeutic massage appointments whereas he performed for the Texans. One lady alleged Watson pressured her to carry out oral intercourse. Final month, Buzbee introduced 20 of these 24 lawsuits have been settled.
In an announcement, Texans house owners Janice McNair and Hannah and Cal McNair stated whereas the staff didn’t have any information of Watson’s alleged misconduct, they had been “shocked and deeply saddened” once they first realized concerning the accusations and selected to resolve the claims in opposition to the staff “amicably”.
“This isn’t an admission of any wrongdoing, however as an alternative a transparent stand in opposition to any type of sexual assault and misconduct. We hope that in the present day’s decision will present some type of closure to the events concerned, our followers and the Houston group at massive. As a company, we’ll now flip our focus to the longer term and doing what we will to make sure respect for all,” the McNairs stated of their assertion.
Within the lawsuit filed final month in opposition to the Texans, a lady accused the staff and a few of its staff of getting been informed or being conscious of Watson’s troubling habits and “recognized tendency to push boundaries throughout therapeutic massage periods.” The lawsuit alleged the Texans supplied Watson with varied assets, together with rooms at a Houston resort, therapeutic massage tables and a non-disclosure settlement the ladies had been informed to signal, that allowed the quarterback “to additional his misconduct with ladies”.
Buzbee stated whereas he would haven’t any extra touch upon the allegations in opposition to the Texans, in an announcement he added “there’s a marked distinction in the best way wherein the Texans addressed these allegations, and the best way wherein Watson’s staff has completed so.”
Watson, who agreed to be traded to the Cleveland Browns in March after 4 seasons with Houston, has claimed his innocence and that any intercourse with the therapists was consensual. The 26-year-old is dealing with potential self-discipline from the NFL over the allegations.
Watson, who signed a five-year, $230m contract with the Browns, is ready to see if he’ll be eligible to play this season. NFL disciplinary officer Sue L Robinson will resolve whether or not the three-time Professional Bowler violated the league’s private conduct coverage together with his off-field habits.
A former federal decide in Delaware, Robinson held a listening to this month throughout which the league and the NFL Gamers Affiliation offered arguments. The league has insisted on an indefinite suspension for Watson whereas the union says there are not any grounds for a prolonged ban since he didn’t commit any crimes.
Two separate grand juries in Texas declined to indict Watson on any prison complaints.
That is the primary case for Robinson, who was collectively appointed by the league and union to deal with self-discipline. She has been reviewing post-hearing briefs from either side.
The Browns, who traded three first-round picks to Houston and 6 complete for Watson, are desperate to know the way lengthy they may very well be with out their beginning quarterback. The staff opens coaching camp on 25 July.
Buzbee stated he hopes to take to trial the 4 remaining lawsuits in opposition to Watson someday within the spring subsequent 12 months.
