Watson accusers attach their names to lawsuits
Another woman filed a civil lawsuit Wednesday against Deshaun Watson, adding to a flurry of developments this week in the escalating legal battle over whether the NFL quarterback engaged in sexual misconduct during therapy sessions.
Since Tuesday:
h Twenty of the 22 previous plaintiffs who filed suit have attached their names to their sexual misconduct allegations against him. All previously filed under the pseudonym Jane Doe.
h One of the 22 women withdrew her case against the Texans quarterback “for now,” citing privacy and security concerns. That woman stated she “reserves the right to refile this case once such concerns are addressed,” according to court documents filed in her case. She is the only one to have withdrawn, with the other remaining Jane Doe expected to attach her name to her lawsuit this week.
h Then on Wednesday, a new plaintiff became the 23rd woman to file a lawsuit against Watson in Harris County, Texas, according to court filings there. The woman is identified by name and described as a freelance makeup artist. She stated Watson contacted her via Instagram for a massage, then caused her to touch his genitals on one occasion and ejaculated onto her on another occasion at Watson’s house last year.
“Plaintiff was initially excited to have defendant Watson as a client, and hoped he would refer her more clients because he was high-profile,” her suit states. “Instead, she now feels ashamed, embarrassed, deeply distressed and confused by Watson’s manipulating the massage and her into sexual coercion.”
Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, has said the claims are false. Last week he also said there were “sometimes consensual encounters” during Watson’s massage sessions.
That came after plaintiff Ashley Solis became the first to reveal her identity and speak publicly about her case last week, saying Watson was “my assaulter and my harasser.”
The women seek compensatory damages in their cases. The Houston Police are investigating at least one complaint involving Watson, 25, but declined to give further details.