INDIANAPOLIS — Cowboys owner Jerry Jones deferred comment Friday to a team spokesperson and past statements in response to a 2020 sexual harassment lawsuit that was dismissed in 2022 but revived last Monday in an appeals court decision.
A woman has sought more than $1 million in damages after accusing Jones of forcibly grabbing her and kissing her on the mouth at AT&T Stadium on Sept. 16, 2008. In the lawsuit, she said the incident caused “severe emotional distress,” “psychological pain and suffering” and medical expenses.
Jones met with reporters about 90 minutes Friday evening upon arriving at the NFL combine, discussing myriad topics that did not include the court ruling. Tad Carper, Cowboys senior vice president for communications, addressed the matter on Jones’ behalf.
“Our answer accurately characterized this suit,” Carper said to The Dallas Morning News, “and nothing has changed since the original answer was filed regarding that characterization.”
The answer document Carper referenced was filed in a Dallas County court Nov. 20, 2020.
“Not only are these allegations entirely false, but they are also malicious and hurtful,” Jones’ attorney Levi McCathern said in the filing. “The allegations never occurred but instead are machinations created to attack Defendant and his family. Defendant Jerry Jones never conducted himself in manner that would justify these false accusations. Therefore, Defendant denies all of these false accusations.”
