Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated Wednesday that quarterback Deshaun Watson will play in Sunday’s sport towards the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stefanski’s announcement comes two days after a lady filed a lawsuit towards Watson accusing him of sexual assault and battery.
Stefanski stated he didn’t know in regards to the allegations earlier than the lawsuit was filed Monday. The coach additionally referred to the group’s assertion when requested in regards to the newest allegations towards Watson.
On Tuesday, the Browns group stated it is going to observe the NFL’s tips relating to the brand new accusation towards Watson.
A girl sued Watson in Harris County, Texas, on Monday and in addition accused him of intentional infliction of emotional misery within the go well with. The incident allegedly occurred on a date on the lady’s house in October 2020.
In line with the lawsuit, Watson first met the girl at a Houston restaurant in July 2020. After a interval of exchanging texts, he requested to satisfy that October, and the girl invited Watson to her house for dinner. The lawsuit alleged that after calling the girl’s cellphone and “aggressively yelling and screaming and stating that he couldn’t discover her house,” Watson arrived and undressed himself whereas ready for the girl to complete preparing in her toilet.
Upon popping out of her toilet, the girl discovered Watson “fully bare on her mattress,” in accordance with the lawsuit. Watson then insisted she therapeutic massage his buttocks, regardless of the girl repeating that she wasn’t a masseuse, per the lawsuit. She stated she was afraid and tried to therapeutic massage his again as an alternative. Watson turned over, the lawsuit alleged, then grabbed her and sexually assaulted her for a number of minutes. She finally escaped and grabbed a bit of furnishings for self-defense, the lawsuit stated, and Watson left.
“That is an especially severe matter,” Tony Buzbee, the girl’s lawyer, informed The Athletic in an electronic mail. “We intend to pursue this case with the identical aggressiveness with which we pursued the others.”
In line with the lawsuit, the girl was discouraged from coming ahead together with her story after seeing how earlier ladies who made allegations towards Watson have been handled by Watson’s protection group and the general public. The submitting stated the girl first tried to resolve points with Watson with out submitting a public lawsuit, however these efforts failed.
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Timeline of Deshaun Watson’s authorized troubles, profession since first sexual misconduct allegation
Because of the alleged incident, the girl suffers from extreme psychological anguish, panic assaults, despair and anxiousness, per the lawsuit. She is looking for damages of over $1 million.
In a press release launched Wednesday by Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, the quarterback “strongly” denied the most recent allegations of sexual assault described within the lawsuit.
“Deshaun strongly denies the allegations within the Jane Doe lawsuit filed Monday,” the assertion stated. “We now have requested him to not remark additional whereas this matter works its method by way of the courts, however are snug he’ll in the end be vindicated.
“We will likely be able to defend this case in courtroom on the acceptable time, however don’t intend to conduct our protection within the media. We’d ask that individuals be affected person whereas the authorized course of runs its course. Within the meantime, Deshaun goes to focus his vitality and focus on soccer.”
The lawsuit comes greater than two years after Watson reached settlements with over two dozen ladies who accused him of sexual misconduct. Twenty-four ladies filed lawsuits alleging assault or harassment between 2020 and 2021.
On Tuesday, the NFL stated Watson was not positioned on the commissioner’s exempt record in mild of the brand new lawsuit.
“We’re reviewing the criticism and we are going to look into the matter below the Private Conduct Coverage,” a league spokesperson stated. “Not taking a look at Commissioner’s Exempt record as there’s been no formal expenses and the league’s evaluation has simply begun.”
Watson struggled within the group’s Week 1 loss to the Cowboys, finishing 53 p.c of his passes for 196 yards, whereas throwing one landing and two interceptions.
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(Photograph: Nick Cammett / Getty Pictures)
