HOUSTON (AP) — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson faces nearly 30 civil lawsuits from women accusing him of sexual misconduct, the last two of which have been dismissed, according to court records.
The dismissal of the two lawsuits frees Watson from legal troubles he has faced since 2021 after 27 women came forward in Texas court documents accusing him of exposing himself, touching them with his genitals or kissing them against their will, mostly during massage appointments.
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Some women have accused Watson, 30, of forcing them to perform oral sex, and one woman accused him of sexually assaulting her.
Both lawsuits, both scheduled to go to trial in the coming weeks, were dismissed. The allegations against Watson were made while he was playing for the Houston Texans.
Watson is believed to have no other lawsuits related to sexual misconduct allegations.
One of the lawsuits dismissed Friday has been settled, said Tony Buzbee, an attorney for the woman who filed the lawsuit. Buzbee declined further comment, citing the confidentiality of the settlement. Buzbee’s client alleged that Watson touched her with his penis multiple times during the massage.
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It’s unclear whether the other dismissed lawsuit has also been settled. Anissa Nguyen, an attorney for the woman who filed the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to an email or phone call seeking comment. Nguyen’s client accused Watson of forcing her to perform oral sex during a massage.
Watson’s attorney declined to comment.
Watson, who was traded to the Browns in March 2022, has long denied any wrongdoing, and two separate Texas grand juries declined to indict him. One of his attorneys, Rusty Hardin, has previously said the allegations against Watson are “baseless.”
“I don’t recall or recall having any sexual contact with her,” Watson said in 2023 testimony when asked about the women represented by Nguyen.
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Women represented by Nguyen also sued the Houston Texans, alleging Watson assaulted women with the team’s help and resources. A lawsuit against the Texans was also dismissed last week.
A spokesman for the Texans did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
In July 2022, 30 women who accused the Texans of turning a blind eye to allegations against their former star quarterback settled their legal claims against the team.
It’s not unusual for all cases against Watson to be settled, said David Ring, a California attorney who is not connected to the lawsuits and who represents sexual assault victims. He said most civil lawsuits are usually settled before going to trial, and high-profile defendants often don’t want their cases to be heard in public courts.
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“He’s trying to put it all behind him,” Lin said.
Watson’s legal troubles began after dozens of women claimed they were victims of sexual misconduct or assault between 2017 and 2020.
Most lawsuits against Watson were settled in 2022.
After being charged, Watson was suspended for the first 11 games of 2022 for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
Watson was also fined $5 million and underwent a mandatory evaluation before being reinstated by the league. He only played 19 games for the Browns due to NFL suspensions and injuries.
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Follow Juan A. Lozano: https://x.com/juanlozano70
