The law firm that is building the case says lawsuits against the defender continue to grow
Lawyer Tony buzbee said Friday at a news conference that it will file five additional lawsuits against Deshaun Watson “In due time,” which raises the total number of cases at 12 for sexual misconduct and assault by the Texan defender.
Buzbee also said she talked to him “More than 10 additional women” who reported similar behavior by Watson.
Tony Buzbee said Watson’s alleged misconduct occurred earlier this month, which was the first time Buzbee had said he had spoken to Watson’s lawyer, Scott Gaffield. Since then, Watson has hired lawyer Rusty Hardin.
Buzbee said Friday that his office has contacted police and will provide information on women who want to sue Watson. He also said that he is not aware of police reports submitted before civil trials.
“This will be our next step,” Buzbee said.
However, the Houston Police Department said in a statement posted on Twitter On Friday, “HPD is not currently aware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations in their recent lawsuits and there are no reports of incidents in our jurisdiction.”
Buzbee said representatives for Watson have known about the allegations for more than a month.
“In fact, I had contact with Loshaun Watson’s agent / lawyer in Los Angeles, who downplayed these allegations and did not take them seriously,” Buzbee said. “We wanted to solve this problem without a lawsuit, without publicity. I knew that once we filed a lawsuit, Texas, of course, has an open court order in the constitution, so all lawsuits are public. We wanted to avoid that.” .
Hardin issued a statement on Friday saying the allegations against Watson were “unfounded”.
“I am extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and to fully support him against what we believe are baseless allegations,” Hardin said in a statement. “However, we will wait to comment in detail until we complete the analysis of Mr Buzbee’s many evolving complaints. We will respond next week and ask you to be open-minded until we do so.”
Following Buzbee’s announcement of the first trial on Tuesday, Watson responded Twitter saying he rejected “an unsubstantiated six-digit request for settlement” and that “he is erasing my name and I hope to do so.” At the time of his statement, Watson said he did not see the first trial.
“I have never treated a woman with anything but the utmost respect,” Watson said in a statement.
At Friday’s news conference, Buzbee said one of the women said Watson went to her for a Texas fitness trainer, while another woman said Watson came to her for Quincy Avery, the personal trainer. Watson’s defender and physical trainer.
Buzbee said that when he filed the first lawsuit on Tuesday night, he represented only two women. Since then, the other women have shown up.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday that “the issue is being examined” by the league’s personal conduct policy, and Texans said they will remain in close contact with the NFL during the league’s investigation. Buzbee said he 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 adviser.
Buzbee has not yet responded directly to the NFL’s request to interview him and his clients, league sources said. Ed Werder of ESPN, although he promised cooperation at his press conference. The NFL protocol would also involve a possible interview with Watson.
Under the terms of the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Watson could be punished if the league established that the allegations were true, regardless of the court’s outcome, but a source told Werder it was premature to discuss what the allegations might mean. Watson’s future.
Although it has been speculated that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell could put Watson on the exempt list, it is not believed to be a current option because the NFL off-season has begun and this process was designed to eliminate players. Facing possible disciplinary action from practices and games.
The seven lawsuits filed so far are a model 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 claim that these were unique encounters with Watson, but one woman claims that Watson sexually assaulted her several times. The trial says that the first massage was booked through the spa where the esthetician worked. The other six lawsuits claim that Watson first asked about massage through direct messages from Instagram.
Three of the four lawsuits filed Thursday night accuse him of inadequate contact; the fourth said he tried to force a kiss on a woman.
“Watson’s behavior is part of a disturbing pattern of predation for vulnerable women,” says the fourth lawsuit.
All the women who have sued Watson so far have done so anonymously. Many of them claim to have been intimidated by his physical stature and his status as an NFL quarterback.
Buzbee said Friday that three of the women represented by his law firm “are in intensive care as a result of the defendant’s conduct.”
Watson’s agent, David Mulugheta, posted in Twitter Friday.
“Sexual assault is real. Victims must be heard, criminals must be prosecuted,” he said on Friday. “People often invent stories in search of financial gain. Their victims need to be heard and those criminals need to be prosecuted. I just hope we keep the same energy as the truth.”