The Houston Texans have reached settlements with 30 girls who’ve accused the N.F.L. quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in therapeutic massage appointments, based on Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the ladies.
Certainly one of Watson’s accusers filed swimsuit final month towards the Texans, Watson’s former employer, claiming that the group “turned a blind eye” to Watson’s conduct towards feminine therapeutic massage therapists throughout the time he performed for the group. She is the one plaintiff to file swimsuit towards the Texans, however in a press release, Buzbee stated the settlements are with “the entire girls who’ve made, or meant to make, claims towards the Houston Texans group.”
Twenty-four girls filed lawsuits towards Watson, alleging that he assaulted or harassed them in therapeutic massage appointments between 2020 and 2021, when he was on the Texans’ roster. Watson, who has denied any wrongdoing, settled 20 of these fits final month. The identities of the extra six girls reaching settlements with the Texans are unknown, and Buzbee declined to share any extra particulars about their claims towards Watson or the group.
“I’ll don’t have any additional touch upon the allegations or the Texans’ alleged position, apart from to say that there’s a marked distinction in the way in which during which the Texans addressed these allegations and the way in which during which Watson’s group has completed so,” Buzbee stated.
The McNair household, house owners of the group, stated in a press release Friday that they didn’t have any data of Watson’s alleged conduct till March 2021, when the primary lawsuit towards him was filed, however “we’ve deliberately chosen to resolve this matter amicably. This isn’t an admission of any wrongdoing, however as a substitute a transparent stand towards any type of sexual assault and misconduct.”
An N.F.L. spokesman declined to touch upon whether or not the league would examine the Texans or if the group might face self-discipline.
Buzbee stated the phrases of the settlements, together with the monetary quantity, are confidential.
The information of the ladies’s settlements with the Texans comes as Watson awaits a ruling on if or how he can be disciplined by the N.F.L. after a three-day listening to final month in entrance of an arbiter collectively appointed by the league and the N.F.L. Gamers Affiliation. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on legal costs in March. After the primary grand jury declined to convey costs and earlier than the second did, the Cleveland Browns traded for Watson and signed him to an unprecedented, absolutely assured five-year contract price $230 million.
Earlier than certainly one of Watson’s accusers filed her lawsuit towards the Texans, a New York Instances investigation confirmed that the group supplied the venue Watson used for among the therapeutic massage appointments that resulted in civil claims or legal complaints. A group consultant additionally furnished him with a nondisclosure settlement after a lady who later sued him threatened on-line to show his conduct.
Buzbee stated that the girl’s lawsuit towards the Texans can be dismissed with prejudice as quickly because the settlement paperwork was accomplished. 4 lawsuits towards Watson are nonetheless pending — together with that of the girl who had sued the Texans — and the settlements with the Texans don’t seem to have an effect on these instances.
Buzbee reiterated that “the 4 filed instances towards Deshaun Watson will proceed” and that every one 4 are anticipated to go to trial within the spring of 2023.
Supply: NY Times
