Editor’s note: This story contains accounts of sexual assault. If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or at https://www.rainn.org.
Deshaun Watson has reached settlements in 20 of the 24 active civil lawsuits against him that allege instances of sexual harassment and sexual assault during massage therapy sessions, according to The New York Times' Jenny Vrentas.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, announced the news Tuesday and said that the terms and amounts agreed to are confidential and “we won’t comment further on the settlements or those cases.”
“Today, I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled,” Buzbee said in a statement. “We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. “Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed.”
The Browns quarterback still faces four active civil lawsuits. The 24 lawsuits against Watson detail accounts that ranged from Watson allegedly refusing to cover his genitals to the quarterback “touching [a plaintiff] with his penis and trying to force her to perform oral sex on him.” The first suit against Watson was filed in March 2021 by Ashley Solis. Buzbee noted in his statement Tuesday that Solis is not one of the 20 women whose cases were settled.
“Her case has not settled and thus her story and that of the other three brave women will continue,” he said. “I look forward to trying these cases in due course, consistent with other docket obligations and the court’s schedule.”
Last November, Buzbee said that settlement talks between him and Watson’s legal team had broken down over nondisclosure agreements. Watson was asked June 14 whether he was open to settling the lawsuits and what it would take to reach a settlement.
“Like I said, I just want to clear my name and be able to let the facts and the legal procedures continue to play out, so right now that’s all I’m doing is wanting to clear my name and being able to let all the facts come out in the court of law and be able to focus on that,” the quarterback said.
The NFL is currently investigating Watson, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying in late May that the league is “nearing the end of the investigation,” though no time line was provided on when a ruling would be issued by the disciplinary officer. In wake of the settlements, the league’s spokesperson Brian McCarthy told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that “today’s development has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process.”
It was reported Friday that the league is going to argue that Watson should receive a “significant” suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. A source close to Watson’s side told The Washington Post that the league will “probably” go with a one-season suspension. A different source close to the NFL’s side said to be “careful” about a specific suspension length, but that the ruling will be “significant.”
The NFL Players Association will “mobilize with an aggressive defense on Watson’s behalf,” which will reportedly include comparisons to the league’s handling of cases involving three prominent team owners—the Commanders’ Daniel Snyder, Patriots’ Robert Kraft and Cowboys’ Jerry Jones.
The MMQB‘s Albert Breer reported earlier this month that June 30 was considered to be an important date in the process, as it is the deadline for pretrial discovery in the suits against Watson. After the news of the settlements, Breer noted this date “becomes less relevant,” and he expects a “Deshaun Watson decision before camp.”
At the end of May and early June, two new civil suits emerged after HBO aired Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel, which featured plaintiffs Solis and Kyla Hayes giving their first national TV interviews. A week after it aired, a 23rd lawsuit emerged, with the plaintiff noting in the suit that the segment changed her mind about filing, including Watson’s comment about having “no regrets.” Six days later, a 24th lawsuit was filed.
Watson previously faced multiple criminal complaints, but was not charged following two separate grand jury hearings in March. A Harris County grand jury returned nine “no” decisions on nine criminal complaints against Watson and a county prosecutor said that the decision concluded criminal proceedings against him in that county on March 11. On March 24, a grand jury in Brazoria County declined to charge Watson on a 10th count.
Following the Harris County grand jury, the Browns acquired Watson from the Texans in a blockbuster five-year contract worth a guaranteed $230 million, setting a new record for the highest guaranteed contract in the league. During Watson’s introductory press conference with Cleveland in March, he denied assaulting, harassing or disrespecting any woman. Following the 24th suit, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said he’s “going to be respectful of the investigation, of the legal proceedings. I’m going to let that play out.”
Earlier this month, the Times’ Vrentas reported that Watson booked at least 66 women over the span of 17 months for massage therapy sessions. The report also found that a Houston-based spa and the Texans “enabled” his massage habit, with the franchise providing facilities and nondisclosure agreements. It also found that the quarterback’s lawyer and the prosecutors at the district attorney’s office on the criminal cases had been in extensive contact leading up to the two grand juries. According to Vrentas, Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lawyer, “began a regular dialogue” with the Harris County sex crimes prosecutor in early 2022.
Throughout the process, Watson and his legal team have maintained his innocence.
Here's what has happened with the quarterback on and off the field since his last game with the Texans in 2021.
