A lawyer representing at least 12 women filing civil assault lawsuits against Deshaun Watson painted the Houston Texans quarterback as a serial harasser whose behavior escalated to forced oral sex.
Tony Buzbee said during a news conference Friday that seven lawsuits have been filed and five more are coming — several of the 12 Jane Does were hired to massage Watson — and 10 other women have contacted his office with similar stories not yet vetted. The most recent incident happened earlier this month, after Buzbee first notified Watson’s representation of the allegations, he said.
“This case isn’t about money,” said Buzbee, a high-profile Texas attorney. “We have pleaded the jurisdictional minimum … [of] $500. It’s certainly not about seeking publicity or fame. I personally don’t need it, and these women don’t want it. This case is about female empowerment and taking the power back.
“They bring these cases for one reason only: Stopping further misconduct from this defendant and any others like him,” Buzbee added. “We won’t be deterred.”
Buzbee said he “stopped counting at 10 death threats” against him, his children and his colleagues from social-media commenters.
Watson has hired his own high-profile attorney, Rusty Hardin, who got Roger Clemens acquitted in 2012 after the pitcher was accused of lying to Congress when he denied using performance-enhancing drugs.
“I’m extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations,” Hardin said in a statement to Fox26 Houston. “However, we will wait to comment in detail until we’ve completed our review of the numerous, evolving allegations from Mr. Buzbee. We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so.”
Watson, 25, asked the Texans to trade him earlier this month. The Texans held on to him and now the allegations cloud the market and could make potential suitors, such as the Jets and Dolphins, leery of dealing for the Pro Bowl quarterback.
Because Buzbee lives on the same street as Texans owner Cal McNair, conspiracy theorists have suggested this could be a revenge tactic to disgrace Watson’s reputation.
“I need to dispel some silly rumors,” Buzbee said. “I live near the McNair family. I don’t know the McNair family. I wouldn’t recognize Cal or Hal if I saw him on the street. This case has nothing to do with the Texans, nothing to do with free agency. The timing, I don’t know anything about that silliness and I frankly don’t care about it. This case is about brave women who are willing to step forward knowing they will be criticized and ostracized.”
Buzbee said he has had “no contact with the Texans” and only received a letter from the NFL seeking compliance because the matter is under investigation within the league’s personal conduct policy.
The plan is to package together the civil complaints and present them to the Houston Police Department for consideration of criminal charges. There is a dispute over whether Buzbee and the police already have been in contact, which was suggested by the attorney.
“At this time, HPD is unaware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations contained in his recently filed lawsuits,” police said in a statement, “and no incident reports regarding these allegations have been filed in our jurisdiction.”
Watson denied the initial allegation and denied ever mistreating women. His NFL agent, David Mulugheta, released a statement before Buzbee spoke Friday, pointing out that false allegations can be prosecuted, too.
“Sexual assault is real,” wrote Mulugheta, who represents dozens of high-profile NFL clients. “Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted. Individuals fabricate stories in pursuit of financial gain often. Their victims should be heard, and those offenders also prosecuted. I simply hope we keep this same energy with the truth.”
Texas law defines civil assault as intentionally or knowingly causing physical contact when the defendant knows or should know the plaintiff would regard such contact as offensive.
One of the lawsuits cited during the news conference claims Watson booked a session with a masseuse during which he “got completely naked, got an erection and asked her what she was going to do about that erection?” During another session, Watson allegedly tried to put his penis in the same woman’s hand and kiss her on the mouth.
The same suit claims the woman felt “scared and confused,” and “powerless and confused,” and “feared what Watson would do to her career.” As a result, the suit says, she suffers from panic attacks, depression and anxiety, is seeking counseling and has trouble sleeping.
A separate suit claims that Watson forced a licensed massage therapist to perform oral sex on him in December after contacting her on Instagram. He allegedly made it clear that he could “help or hurt” her career.
“Our thought was when we filed the first case, if it’s happened once, it’s probably happened more than once,” Buzbee said. “And we were right on that.”
Watson previously said he was given an opportunity to settle these allegations before the civil suits were filed in open court. That was framed as a shakedown attempt. Not so, says Buzbee.
“We wanted to resolve this matter without a lawsuit,” Buzbee said. “What we received of cooperation with Mr. Watson’s [representation] was dismissive behavior and, frankly, incredible arrogance.”