The Houston Texans have reached agreements with 30 women who have accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct on massage dates, according to Tony Buzbee, the lawyer representing the women.
One of Watson’s accusers filed a lawsuit last month against the Texans, Watson’s former businessman, alleging that the organization “turned a blind eye” to Watson’s behavior toward massage therapists during the time he played on the team. She is the only plaintiff to have filed a lawsuit against the Texans, but in a statement, Buzbee said the agreements are with “all women who have made, or intend to make, claims against the Houston Texans organization.”
Twenty-four women filed a lawsuit against Watson, alleging that he assaulted or harassed them on massage dates between 2020 and 2021, when he was on the jeans list. Watson, who has denied any wrongdoing, resolved 20 of those lawsuits last month. The identities of the six additional women who reached agreements with the Texans are unknown, and Buzbee declined to share any additional details about their claims against Watson or the team.
“I will have no further comment on the allegations or the alleged role of the Texans, other than to say that there is a marked contrast in the way the Texans handled these allegations and the way Watson’s team has done so.” said Buzbee. dit.
The McNair family, owners of the team, said Friday in a statement that they were unaware of Watson’s alleged behavior until March 2021, when the first lawsuit was filed against him, but “we have intentionally chosen to resolve this “This is not an admission of any crime, but a clear stance against any form of sexual assault and misconduct.”
An NFL spokesman declined to comment on whether the league would investigate the Texans or whether the organization could face discipline.
Buzbee said the terms of the agreements, including the financial amount, are confidential.
News of women’s deals with the Texans comes as Watson awaits a decision on whether or how he will be disciplined by the NFL after a three-day hearing last month before a referee jointly appointed by the league and the Association of NFL players. Two Texas grand jurors refused to charge Watson with criminal charges in March. After the first grand jury refused to file charges and before the second did, the Cleveland Browns traded for Watson and signed him with an unprecedented five-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $ 230 million.
Before one of Watson’s accusations filed his lawsuit against the Texans, a New York Times investigation showed that the team provided the site Watson used for some of the massage appointments that led to claims. civil or criminal complaints. A team representative also provided him with a confidentiality agreement after a woman who later sued him threatened online with exposing his behavior.
Buzbee said the woman’s lawsuit against the jeans would be dismissed with prejudice as soon as the settlement documentation had been completed. Four lawsuits against Watson are still pending, including that of the woman who had sued the jeans, and the agreements with the jeans do not appear to affect those cases.
Buzbee reiterated that “the four cases filed against Deshaun Watson will continue” and that all four are expected to be tried in the spring of 2023.