Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has reached confidential settlements with all however 4 ladies who accused him of sexual misconduct throughout therapeutic massage classes, the ladies’s lawyer stated Tuesday.
“Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled. We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed,” legal professional Tony Buzbee, who’s representing the plaintiffs within the case, stated in a press release to NBC News.
“The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”In March, the Browns launched Watson as their quarterback after he beforehand performed for the Houston Texans. He signed a five-year, $230 million contract with Cleveland.
In his assertion, Buzbee gave credit score to plaintiff Ashley Solis, who was the primary to return ahead and accuse Watson of sexual misconduct. Solis’ case stays one of 4 unsettled cases.
Buzbee stated of the open cases: “Ashley Solis is one of the heroes of this story. Her case has not settled and thus her story and that of the other three brave women will continue. I look forward to trying these cases in due course, consistent with other docket obligations and the court’s schedule.”
Watson has been accused of sexual misconduct by two dozen women in civil lawsuits.
They alleged that Watson improperly touched them after hiring them as massage therapists and personal trainers.
A grand jury near Houston declined to indict Watson on sexual misconduct allegations, officials have said. It was the second such panel in March to decline charges against him. The district attorneys in both instances did not elaborate on why the grand juries declined to indict.
Watson has denied any wrongdoing.
His attorney, Rusty Hardin, said earlier this month in a statement: “Deshaun Watson did nothing fallacious. And as two grand juries have made clear, Deshaun did nothing unlawful.”
“Deshaun has all the time acknowledged consensual sexual exercise with three of the plaintiff therapeutic massage therapists after massages. And Deshaun has repeatedly sworn beneath oath that he didn’t drive any of his accusers to have sexual contact.”
Hardin could not be immediately reached Tuesday afternoon for comment.
Watson is also being investigated by the NFL and faces a potential suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.
An NFL spokesperson said Tuesday in an email the league does not have a timeline for when it expects to complete its investigation into Watson.
“Today’s development has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process. The matter remains under review of the personal conduct policy,” the spokesperson said.
Associated Press contributed.