Brown countersues Memphis native woman for defamation
On Wednesday, Antonio Brown countersued his former trainer for defamation and “interference with multiple advantageous business relationships,” according to documents obtained and reviewed by USA TODAY Sports.
Memphis native and Shelby County resident Britney Taylor filed a civil lawsuit against Brown in September alleging sexual assault and rape and served him in Florida's Broward County Circuit Court on Nov. 1. (USA TODAY does not typically identify victims of sexual assault unless they decide to come forward publicly, as Taylor has.) Given 45 days to respond, Brown countered with a suit of his own and denied all of Taylor's accusations.
Brown's claim says Taylor and Brown met at Central Michigan University in 2010 and had “cursory communication” until Taylor began her time as a personal trainer for Brown in 2017.
The countersuit claims that Brown and Taylor's relationship was always consensual and that Taylor sought a $1,645,000 investment from Brown for her gymnastics business in Memphis, Tennessee, after Brown inked a $72 million contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017.
Brown's position also says that “false accusations” from Taylor has affected his “business relationships he had with the NFL, as well as multiple businesses with whom he had contracts for sponsorships and endorsements, resulting in significant financial loss for Brown.”
“In summary, after enduring a failed business endeavor and also failing to gain the relationship status she desired with Brown, Taylor began a vicious campaign of lies and deceit targeting
Brown both personally and professionally,” Brown's filing states. “To date, Taylor has involved her friends, family, business associates, legal representatives, a local politician and even her church members in a civil conspiracy to extort, defraud, defame and harass Brown ... in such a manner as to cause Brown and his family significant personal and financial harm.”
Taylor's attorney, David Haas, told USA TODAY Sports his client will not be intimidated.
“(Wednesday), Antonio Brown countersued the woman he raped and blamed her for the self-destructive conduct that led to the demise of his NFL career,” Haas said in a statement. “In the past, Defendant Brown has used intimidation to avoid responsibility for his actions. However, Ms. Taylor will not be bullied and remains steadfast in holding Defendant Brown accountable.”
Throughout his filing, Brown maintains that a confidentiality agreement he signed on March 8 “under duress” prohibits him from discussing relevant events “all of which relate to the civil conspiracy to extort, defraud, defame and harass Brown.”
After appearing finished with professional football, Brown appears to have set his sights on an NFL return. Earlier this week, he apologized to the New England Patriots and owner Robert Kraft for his social media outburst after the team released him. That release came more than a week after Taylor filed suit, and only after another alleged victim of sexual misconduct shared text messages with Sports Illustrated of Brown allegedly threatening her.