There have been at least 22 lawsuits filed against former Houston Texans tight end Deshaun Watson for sexual assault. The NFL has also launched its own investigation into the allegations.
The Houston police have also launched a probe into the allegations. Watson’s lead attorney, Ruty Hardin, denies the accusations.
Investigation
The Houston Police Department is conducting an investigation into the allegations of sexual assault against Deshaun Watson. The former NFL player is accused of touching a woman’s seminal fluids without consent and non-consensual penetration. During a massage session, Watson allegedly asked the woman to touch his penis. He groped and kissed her, according to the suit.
According to the suit, a licensed therapist, using the pseudonym ‘Jane Doe,’ filed a lawsuit in Houston’s Harris County. Watson had contacted the therapist through Instagram DM in December 2020, and they agreed to meet at a local hotel. The therapist normally charges $115 per hour for her services, but she claims she was paid $300 by Watson for her time.
Suits
Two women have filed separate Deshaun Watson sexual assault suits in the past month. One was filed in April and the other in May. Both are seeking the NFL’s attention for violating its personal conduct policy. The NFL has yet to respond to the lawsuits, and Watson has not been arrested or charged. Meanwhile, the Houston Police Department is investigating at least two of the allegations against him. According to an open records request, the Houston Police Department said it is investigating the alleged misconduct.
The NFL declined to comment on the settlements, but Watson has signed nondisclosure agreements with his therapists. He is eligible to be reinstated in the NFL on Nov. 28. His attorney has refused to say if he is going to face disciplinary action.
Suit settlements
Deshaun Watson is the subject of several lawsuits filed against him for alleged sexual misconduct during massage sessions. So far, 23 lawsuits have been settled out of court, including two that were dismissed before they could go to court. Watson has denied the accusations and has never been charged with a crime.
Initially, the 22 women who have filed suits against Watson were anonymous. That is, they filed their cases under the name “Jane Doe.” But state district judges have ordered that the women who were previously anonymous to add their names to their suits. As a result, 11 of the women attached their names to their cases. One woman opted not to pursue her case, but the other eight chose to identify themselves. As of late August, the lawsuits involving Watson have now reached a total of $10 million in settlements.
As part of the settlements, Watson will have to pay $5 million in fines and an 11-game suspension. The women who previously sued him were all represented by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee. The latest case was filed by a massage therapist, who claims Watson pushed her to have oral sex with her during a session in December 2020.
Texans’ role in hiding lawsuits
The Texans have been accused of hiding the sexual assault lawsuits against quarterback Deshaun Watson. A lawsuit filed last week claims the Texans knew of the allegations against Watson, but did not do anything to prevent it. The lawsuit claims Watson exposed himself to a female massage therapist and then ejaculated on her. This accusation is the latest in a string of sexual misconduct claims against the quarterback.
While Watson has defended his actions, it’s important to note that not every woman accuses him of sexual misconduct. At least 15 other women have come forward and issued statements of support. Despite the allegations, Watson has repeatedly denied sexual misconduct and the Texans’ role in the matter.