NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson is now facing a lawsuit exceeding $1 million, with accusations that date back four years to an incident in Texas.
The Cleveland Browns player, who previously settled with 20 women over sexual misconduct claims in 2022, is alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman at her apartment.
Details of the Allegations
TMZ reports that the woman alleges Watson, who was a Houston Texans player at the time, stripped naked and demanded she “massage his butt” before sexually assaulting her.
Watson has yet to publicly respond to these new allegations.
Background of Previous Legal Issues
In 2021, Watson was hit with 26 sexual-assault lawsuits, of which 23 have been settled.
The remaining cases are anticipated to go to civil trial.
Despite no criminal charges being filed, the NFL suspended him for 11 games during the 2022 season and fined him $5 million.
Contract and Performance Update
Watson, who signed a record-breaking $230 million guaranteed contract with the Browns in 2022, has had a challenging time on the field.
Most of his Cleveland tenure has been marred by injury and suspension.
In a recent game against the Dallas Cowboys, Watson threw two interceptions and was sacked six times in a 33-17 loss.
Legal Representation and Next Steps
The woman’s attorney, Tony Buzbee—who also represented the 20 women previously accusing Watson—stated that this is an “extremely serious matter” and intends to pursue it with the same vigor as before, seeking a jury trial.
During the alleged incident, the woman managed to fend off Watson using a piece of décor for self-defense and demanded that he leave her apartment.
She had initially hesitated to report the assault due to fears of humiliation and public backlash because of Watson’s celebrity status.
Recent Developments
After unsuccessful attempts to settle the case privately, the woman has decided to make her allegations public.
The next steps will involve legal proceedings, and it remains to be seen how the case will unfold.
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