A Houston woman has filed a $1 million lawsuit against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson for an alleged 2020 sexual assault, KHOU11 reports.
The woman, identified in court documents as “Jane Doe,” claims the then-Houston Texans quarterback forced himself on her after inviting her to her apartment four years ago. KHOU11.
While the woman was putting on makeup in the bathroom, Watson “got naked and lay face down on her bed,” according to the lawsuit. ESPN Reported. (Related article: “This situation changed me”: Deshaun Watson speaks out about sexual assault allegations)
Former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has been accused of sexual assault in a new civil lawsuit filed by a woman who claims Watson forcibly sexually assaulted her four years ago.https://t.co/9mFZCYO3Uq
— KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) September 10, 2024
According to ESPN, the lawsuit also alleges that Watson asked the woman to give him a buttock massage, and when the woman told him she wasn't a masseuse, Watson “partially removed Jane Doe's clothing and penetrated her vaginally without her express or implied consent,” after which the woman ran away.
ESPN reported that Watson “ran out of Jane Doe's apartment.”
The 28-year-old quarterback settled 23 of the 24 sexual assault cases filed against him in 2022 after 24 women came forward with allegations, KHOU 11 reported.
In connection with the 2022 lawsuit, the NFL suspended Watson for 11 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Forced He will pay a $5 million fine and undergo counseling.
KHOU 11 reports that the attorney representing the current plaintiffs is Tony Buzbee, the same attorney who represented previous women who claim Watson assaulted them.
Watson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has struggled with injuries since being traded from the Texans to the Browns in 2022, according to KHOU 11.
The Browns gave Watson a fully guaranteed $230 million contract, but a suspension and shoulder injury meant the quarterback only started 13 times for Cleveland.
Neither the Browns nor the NFL immediately commented on the allegations, but Watson could face disciplinary action from the league.
