The lawsuit filed against NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday marks a significant development in the ongoing legal issues he faces.
Watson, who previously settled 23 out of 24 civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct during massage therapy sessions in 2022, now faces a new accusation of sexual assault. The latest lawsuit, filed in Houston, alleges that Watson assaulted a single mother in her apartment in October 2020.
According to the lawsuit, Watson and the woman, referred to as “Jane Doe,” had been in communication for several months after being introduced by his representatives. The woman alleges that during a dinner at her apartment, Watson became increasingly aggressive, stripping down naked and requesting inappropriate massages. The situation escalated to an alleged sexual assault, with Watson reportedly penetrating the woman without her consent.
The woman claims she managed to escape and force Watson to leave her apartment. The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages and is being handled by attorney Tony Buzbee, who represented the previous accusers in the civil suits against Watson.
Watson, currently the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns, was suspended for 11 games by the NFL in 2022 as a result of the earlier allegations. Watson and his legal team have not yet commented on this latest lawsuit.