The law firm building the case says lawsuits against the quarterback continue to increase
Lawyer Tony Buzbee said at a press conference Friday that he will file five additional lawsuits Deshaun Watson “in due time,” that elevates the total number of cases out of 12 for misconduct and sexual assault by the Texas quarterback.
Buzbee also said he has spoken “more than 10 additional women” who reported similar behavior by Watson
Tony Buzbee said Watson’s alleged misconduct occurred only this month, after Buzbee first said he spoke with Watson’s lawyer, Scott Gaffield. Watson has since hired attorney Rusty Hardin.
Buzbee said Friday his office has contacted police and will provide information on the women who want to charge Watson. He also said he is not aware of any police reports filed prior to the civil suit.
“That will be our next step,” said Buzbee.
However, Houston police said in a statement Twitter Friday that “HPD is not currently aware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations in their recently filed lawsuits and that there are no incident reports in this regard in our jurisdiction.”
Buzbee said representatives for Watson have been aware of the allegations for more than a month.
“We even got in touch with Deshaun Watson’s Los Angeles agent / attorney who downplayed these allegations and didn’t take them seriously,” Buzbee said. “We wanted to solve this problem without a lawsuit, without publicity. We knew that once we filed a lawsuit, Texas naturally has a public judicial provision in the constitution, so all lawsuits are public. We wanted to avoid that.”
Hardin released a statement on Friday saying the allegations against Watson are “unfounded.”
“I am extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and fully support him against what we believe are meritorious allegations,” Hardin’s statement said. “However, we will hold off on commenting in detail until we finalize our review of Mr Buzbee’s many evolving complaints. We will respond next week asking you to remain open until we do.”
After Buzbee’s announcement of the first lawsuit on Tuesday, Watson responded Twitter saying it rejected “an unfounded six-figure settlement” and that it “clears my name, and I hope to do that.” At the time of his statement, Watson said he had not seen the first trial.
“I have never treated a woman with anything but the utmost respect,” Watson said in her statement.
At Friday’s press conference, Buzbee said one of the women said Watson was going to see her for a fitness trainer in Texas, while another woman said Watson came to her for Quincy Avery, the quarterback personal trainer and Watson’s physical trainer.
Buzbee said when he filed the first lawsuit on Tuesday night, he represented only two women. Since then, the other women have come forward.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday that “the matter is under review” of the league’s personal conduct policy, and the Texans said they would remain in close contact with the NFL during the league’s investigation. Buzbee said he has had no contact with the Texans and that the only contact with the NFL was the letter he received from Lisa Friel, the league’s special investigative attorney.
Buzbee has not yet responded directly to the NFL’s request to interview him and his clients, league sources said. Ed Werder from ESPNalthough he promised to cooperate at his press conference. The NFL protocol would also include an eventual interview with Watson.
Under the terms of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Watson could be punished if the league determines that the allegations are true regardless of the outcome in court, but a source told Werder it is premature to discuss what the allegations might mean. for the future of Watson.
While there has been speculation that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could put Watson on the exempt list, this is not considered a current option because the NFL has started off-season and that process was intended to eliminate players. .
The seven lawsuits filed so far represent a pattern of sexual assault against massage therapists in the Houston area. One woman claims she was forced to have oral sex during the massage. Six of the lawsuits allege these were unique encounters with Watson, but one woman alleges that Watson sexually assaulted her multiple times. That lawsuit says the first massage was booked through the spa where the beautician worked. The other six lawsuits allege that Watson first inquired about massage via direct messages Instagram
Three of the four lawsuits filed Thursday evening accuse him of inappropriate contact; the fourth said he tried to kiss a woman forcibly.
“Watson’s behavior is part of a troubling pattern of preying on vulnerable women,” the fourth lawsuit said.
All the women who have filed a lawsuit against Watson so far have done so anonymously. Many of them claim they were intimidated by his physical stature and his status as an NFL quarterback.
Buzbee said Friday that three of the women his law firm represents are “in intensive care as a result of the defendant’s behavior.”
Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta, posted in Twitter on Friday.
“Sexual violence is real. Victims must be heard, offenders must be prosecuted,” he posted Friday. “People often make up stories in search of financial gain. Their victims need to be heard and those criminals also need to be prosecuted. I just hope we hold the same energy with the truth.”