Update as of Mach 23 at 4 pm ET
After days of silence, Watson’s attorney has made his voice heard on the allegations against his client. Rusty Hardin — who is representing Watson — has snapped back at Buzbee.
“I want to emphasize at the outset that we and Deshaun recognize that sexual assault and harassment are not only unlawful, but morally wrong. It takes courage for women to come forward to report being mistreated, particularly when they attach their names to a lawsuit. We do not take these allegations lightly. However, fairness to the accused is equally as important.
“Opposing counsel has orchestrated a circus-like atmosphere by using social media to publicize 14 “Jane Doe” lawsuits during the past seven days in a manner calculated to inflame the public and malign Deshaun’s otherwise sterling reputation. In addition, the tactic of refusing our requests to confidentially provide the names of the plaintiffs so we can fully investigate their claims makes uncovering the truth extremely difficult. Anonymity is often necessary as a shield for victims but opposing counsel has used it as a sword to publicly humiliate Deshaun before the truth‑seeking process can even begin.”
Hardin’s full statement can be found here.
Update as of March 23 at 11:15 am ET
A 14th lawsuit alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct was filed against Deshaun Watson by a woman who says he is a "serial predator."
The incident allegedly took place in California, the second allegation to take place outside the Houston area. https://t.co/bJIhPUfYHP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 23, 2021
Update as of March 22 at 11:30 am ET
More women (four) have come forward alleging sexual assault and inappropriate conduct against Deshaun Watson. In fact, one claim states Watson sexually assaulted a woman this month. It is alleged Watson sexually assaulted by “touching her with his penis and exposing himself, per a report.
In the last week, attorney Tony Buzbee has now filed 11 lawsuits against the quarterback.
Update as of March 20 at 8:30 pm ET
Buzbee announced via Instagram, he and his team will be filing affidavits and evidence for the women they are representing against Watson.
“Per advice from a well-known criminal defense attorney: Our team will be submitting affidavits and evidence from several women, who had experiences with Deshaun Watson, to the Houston Police Department and the Houston District Attorney, on Monday morning. We will request that a grand jury be empaneled to consider the evidence we provide.”
Update as of March 19 at 4:20 pm ET
Buzbee has announced he will be representing 12 women in lawsuits — all of which allege Watson behaved inappropriately with them.
Buzbee stated Watson’s team knew of the allegations and were seeking to have the allegations resolved out of the public’s eye.
“We actually had contact with Deshaun Watson’s agent/lawyer from Los Angeles, who minimized these allegations, who did not take them seriously,” Buzbee stated in a press release. “We wanted to resolve this matter without a lawsuit, without any publicity. We knew that once we filed a lawsuit — Texas, of course, has an open courts provision in the constitution, so all lawsuits are public. We wanted to avoid that.”
Update as of March 19 at 11:36 am ET
This morning news broke that Watson is being sued by more women. The quarterback now has seven lawsuits filed against him. All seven lawsuits are alleging similar inappropriate conduct and sexual assault.
After attorney Tony Buzbee said in an Instagram post that he had filed a complaint against Deshaun Watson, the Texans quarterback posted a message on social media stating that he is eager to clear his name.
Watson responded on Twitter to the news about the lawsuit stating he was rejecting a six-figure settlement over an unsubstantiated lawsuit and that this is about clearing his name.
— Deshaun Watson (@deshaunwatson) March 17, 2021
Buzbee did not specify the allegations against Watson in his post, but did reference the behavior with a woman and later told Fox 26 in Houston that “Watson went too far” with a woman giving him a massage.
This is the third civil suit filed against Watson in the last couple of days. In today’s lawsuit, Watson is being accused of sexually assaulting a massage therapist. Furthermore, he allegedly forced her to have oral sex with him in Dec. of 2020. The previous two lawsuits against him also accused Watson of committing “civil assault” by touching a massage therapist with his penis.
Buzbee is well known in the Houston area for his law firm and an unsuccessful campaign against Mayor Sylvester Turner in 2019.
In turn, Roddy White, published a scandalous tweet in defense of his Watson — without disproving anything:
I hate this for @deshaunwatson the quickest way now to get a bag is to sue someone. It’s impossible to make someone give u oral sex. This is a far stretch and everybody want to get paid.
— Roddy White (@roddywhiteTV) March 18, 2021
Lisa Friel, the Special Counsel, Investigation for the NFL, has reached out to Buzbee stated the league will be opening an investigation into the claims against Watson. She is seeking cooperation from Buzbee as well as his clients.
