From March 16 until April 14, 23 lawsuits were filed against Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson alleging sexual harassment and sexual assault, including one from this past March. One lawsuit was dropped by a plaintiff "for now," according to court documents, "in light of privacy and security concerns. These civil lawsuits currently on the Harris County District Clerk's website include allegations that range from refusing to cover his genitals to forcing women to give him oral sex.
The news of the first filing broke on the evening of March 16 after Houston attorney Tony Buzbee disclosed the news on social media, and details of the first lawsuit came out the following morning. As the lawsuit hearings have progressed, both parties recently accused each other of hiding information or destroying evidence.
(mh=R0oRAryiTE2mKRvL)1.jpg "Woman Sandy Springs")
In addition to the civil lawsuits, Houston Police Department released a statement on April 2 stating that someone has filed a report on Watson. On April 15, Houston PD told Defector 's Kalyn Kahler that they are not releasing any information except that there are two active criminal investigations pertaining "to an incident of a sexual assault.
As a result of the civil lawsuits, Nike has suspended its endorsement of the Texans quarterback. Here's what we know about the lawsuits against Watson. What is Watson accused of? The lawsuits say that Watson sexually harassed and assaulted a number of massage therapists. The specific accusations are wide-ranging but include descriptions of him exposing himself without consent, forcing women into sexual acts and making veiled threats.
One lawsuit, for instance , says that Watson "assaulted and harassed Plaintiff by exposing himself to her and touching her with his penis. He then, according to the lawsuit, attempted to "get her to pleasure him. One of the lawsuits filed on March 30 details an incident in Arizona where Watson made "obscene sexual requests" to the plaintiff, a massage therapist, including "request[ing] she penetrate his anus with her fingers and to massage him there.
