Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has reached a confidential settlement with all however 4 of the 24 girls who sued him and accused him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage periods in 2020 and early 2021, the ladies’s lawyer mentioned Tuesday.
The settlements finish the ladies’s litigation in opposition to him almost 15 months after most have been filed in 2021.
“Immediately I announce that every one circumstances in opposition to Deshaun Watson, apart from 4, have settled,” plaintiffs lawyer Tony Buzbee mentioned in an announcement. “We’re working via the paperwork associated to these settlements. As soon as now we have completed so, these specific circumstances shall be dismissed. The phrases and quantities of the settlements are confidential. We gained’t remark additional on the settlements or these circumstances.”
Settling the circumstances permits Watson to maneuver on from a lot of the litigation after it generated common ugly headlines about him, not less than considerably spoiling his latest arrival in Cleveland as the brand new $230 million quarterback of the Browns. Settling the circumstances additionally helps him keep away from a number of days of deposition testimony that have been scheduled for him this week. These depositions are now not going ahead.
An enormous query now’s how the settlements would possibly have an effect on any resolution to droop him below the NFL’s private conduct coverage. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in Could the investigation into the allegations in opposition to Watson was nearing an finish, however it’s not clear what the league knew about two new lawsuits filed in opposition to Watson this yr or info that got here out of latest pretrial discovery.
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, declined remark Tuesday when contacted by USA TODAY Sports activities.
Watson, 26, by no means was arrested or charged after two grand juries in Texas declined to indict him. There may have been a number of causes the grand juries selected to not indict him, together with an absence of arduous proof in these circumstances individually when Watson’s phrase was pitted in opposition to these of the ladies. Solely one of many felony complainants was referred to as in to testify on the Harris County grand jury continuing in March though different complainants there have been subpoenaed and able to testify, Buzbee informed USA TODAY Sports activities beforehand.
One of many circumstances that didn’t settle is the lawsuit of the primary plaintiff to sue Watson, Ashley Solis. Buzbee mentioned he seems ahead to making an attempt her case and the others remaining lively sooner or later.
“The circumstances in opposition to Deshaun Watson began with one cellphone name, from one courageous and powerful girl,” Buzbee said. “That girl was Ashley Solis. On the time of that decision she was simply one of many a whole bunch of calls searching for authorized help that our agency will get weekly. Though she was initially turned away by our screening course of, my employees insisted that I personally converse together with her. I’m glad she continued. As soon as we took a re-assessment, and after having contact with Watson’s unique lawyer who disrespected Ashley and her occupation and who arrogantly minimized the conduct of somebody he known as an ‘asset,’ I used to be satisfied that our legislation agency ought to attempt to assist her.
“On account of Ashley’s lone however courageous voice, quickly many ladies who had allegedly skilled the identical conduct have been emboldened to step ahead. I’m extremely proud to symbolize all of them. They’ve endured vile criticism and fanatical ignorance. They confronted withering cross examination by expert litigators and stood agency. They’re warriors all. Immediately now we have an essential announcement about these circumstances, however it is very important level out that, with out Ashley Solis, the conduct skilled by these girls would doubtless have continued unfettered. The reality is, with out her braveness and willingness to come back ahead, the NFL wouldn’t at present be considering self-discipline; there can be no examination of how groups would possibly knowingly or unknowingly allow sure conduct; sports activities groups wouldn’t be reviewing their personnel screening processes; and this essential story wouldn’t have dominated the sports activities headlines for greater than a yr.”
Comply with reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. E-mail: bschrotenb@usatoday.com
