The Houston Texans have reached settlements with 30 girls who’ve accused the N.F.L. quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct in therapeutic massage appointments, based on Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the ladies.
Certainly one of Watson’s accusers filed go well with final month in opposition to the Texans, Watson’s former employer, claiming that the group “turned a blind eye” to Watson’s conduct towards feminine therapeutic massage therapists throughout the time he performed for the group. She is the one plaintiff to file go well with in opposition to the Texans, however in an announcement, Buzbee mentioned the settlements are with “the entire girls who’ve made, or meant to make, claims in opposition to the Houston Texans group.”
Twenty-four girls filed lawsuits in opposition to Watson, alleging that he assaulted or harassed them in therapeutic massage appointments between 2020 and 2021, when he was on the Texans’ roster. Watson, who has denied any wrongdoing, settled 20 of these fits final month. The identities of the extra six girls reaching settlements with the Texans are unknown, and Buzbee declined to share any extra particulars about their claims in opposition to Watson or the group.
“I’ll haven’t any additional touch upon the allegations or the Texans’ alleged position, aside from to say that there’s a marked distinction in the best way wherein the Texans addressed these allegations and the best way wherein Watson’s group has finished so,” Buzbee mentioned.
The McNair household, homeowners of the group, mentioned in an announcement Friday that they didn’t have any data of Watson’s alleged conduct till March 2021, when the primary lawsuit in opposition to him was filed, however “we now have deliberately chosen to resolve this matter amicably. This isn’t an admission of any wrongdoing, however as a substitute a transparent stand in opposition to any type of sexual assault and misconduct.”
An N.F.L. spokesman declined to touch upon whether or not the league would examine the Texans or if the group may face self-discipline.
Buzbee mentioned the phrases of the settlements, together with the monetary quantity, are confidential.
The information of the ladies’s settlements with the Texans comes as Watson awaits a ruling on if or how he will probably be disciplined by the N.F.L. after a three-day listening to final month in entrance of an arbiter collectively appointed by the league and the N.F.L. Gamers Affiliation. Two Texas grand juries declined to indict Watson on felony expenses in March. After the primary grand jury declined to deliver expenses and earlier than the second did, the Cleveland Browns traded for Watson and signed him to an unprecedented, absolutely assured five-year contract price $230 million.
Earlier than considered one of Watson’s accusers filed her lawsuit in opposition to the Texans, a New York Instances investigation confirmed that the group offered the venue Watson used for a few of the therapeutic massage appointments that resulted in civil claims or felony complaints. A group consultant additionally furnished him with a nondisclosure settlement after a lady who later sued him threatened on-line to reveal his conduct.
Buzbee mentioned that the lady’s lawsuit in opposition to the Texans can be dismissed with prejudice as quickly because the settlement paperwork was accomplished. 4 lawsuits in opposition to Watson are nonetheless pending — together with that of the lady who had sued the Texans — and the settlements with the Texans don’t seem to have an effect on these instances.
Buzbee reiterated that “the 4 filed instances in opposition to Deshaun Watson will proceed” and that every one 4 are anticipated to go to trial within the spring of 2023.
