Content warning: This story contains details about alleged sexual abuse. The content may be difficult to read and emotionally upsetting.
The Texans’ already-dramatic offseason took a sudden and serious turn in mid-March, when Houston attorney Tony Buzbee announced in an Instagram post that he was filing suit against Deshaun Watson. Since then, Buzbee has filed more than 20 civil lawsuits accusing the Texans quarterback of sexual assault and sexual misconduct, and the NFL and the Houston Police Department are conducting investigations.
Through a social media post and his attorney, Watson has denied any wrongdoing.
Watson already had been a hot topic of the NFL offseason because he requested a trade less than a year after the Texans gave him a $156 million extension that has him under contract for the next five seasons. Where his career heads will depend upon how the legal process and the NFL’s investigation unfold.
This evolving, complicated situation can be difficult to track. To understand how things got to where they are, check out the below timeline, which will be updated as new information emerges.
April 14: Twenty women ID themselves in court filings; another woman files suit against Watson
On the same day that 20 women identified themselves as plaintiffs in suits accusing Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct and sexual assault, another woman filed a civil lawsuit against the Texans quarterback, making similar accusations and attaching her name to the complaint.
An additional woman is expected to identify herself by Thursday after a Wednesday afternoon hearing on the matter was called off, according to a spokesperson for Watson’s legal team.
All 22 of Watson’s accusers originally filed their civil complaints as Jane Does, and one has now elected not to pursue her case, citing privacy and security concerns.
State district judges Dedra Davis and Rabeea Sultan Collier ruled Friday that 12 previously unidentified women had to attach their names to their suits, and another agreed to do so in advance of a similar hearing on the matter. Two other Watson accusers, Ashley Solis and Lauren Baxley, had already come forward publicly, leaving seven anonymous plaintiffs entering the weekend.
Prior to and during the hearings, Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, said his team had been unable to investigate allegations against Watson because opposing counsel Tony Buzbee was withholding the women’s identities. Buzbee on Friday offered to release the names confidentially, but Hardin argued that the accusers being public could allow people to come forward with useful information about the women.
“It appears the Watson team thinks that if these courageous women are forced to identify themselves, they would slink away and not pursue this matter,” Buzbee said in a statement. “Watson and his counsel badly miscalculated. Due to the bravery of Ashley Solis to come forward publicly, and despite the death threats she has experienced, these women are emboldened.”
April 9: Judges rule 13 plaintiffs must identify themselves and refile cases
Thirteen of the 22 women accusing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct and sexual assault must resubmit their civil lawsuits with their names attached to them, two Harris County judges ruled Friday. An additional woman agreed to have her name attached to her suit later on Friday, and another came forward earlier in the week, leaving seven anonymous accusers.
Judge Dedra Davis of the 270th district court ruled on one case, and Judge Rabeea Sultan Collier of the 113th district court oversaw a hearing pertaining to 12 additional women, including Ashley Solis, the first woman to sue Watson. Solis identified herself as one of the plaintiffs in a press conference earlier this week.
Attorney Tony Buzbee said nine of his 12 clients involved in the latter hearing, including Solis, would voluntarily identify themselves. Judge Collier ruled the other three women must also identify themselves if they wished to proceed with their civil suits.
A woman agreed to have her name attached to her suit later on Friday, leaving seven anonymous accusers after two additional women agreed to come forward earlier in the week. A third hearing, which was scheduled for Friday afternoon, was canceled after a 14th woman agreed to attach her name to her complaint. Buzbee and Hardin agreed to consolidate all future pre-trail matters for the 22 lawsuits under the 113th civil court, where the first case was filed.
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has lambasted Buzbee for not offering up the names of Watson’s accusers. Hardin has said it has impeded his team’s effort to investigate the accusations.
In filings submitted Thursday and in hearings Friday, Hardin cited two Texas Rules of Civil Procedure that prohibit using a pseudonym to file a civil lawsuit. One requires plaintiffs to state their names if they are known. The other requires the defense to receive fair notice of claims. In sexual assault cases, state law only offers minors an exception to these rules.
During both hearings and in his responsive filings, Buzbee suggested his clients could enter into a confidentiality or protective order rather than replead with her name attached to their complaints. He argued making the women’s names public will expose them to online harassment and could result in others with similar names being harassed as well.
“This is about protecting not only the Plaintiffs but society at large as well, preventing further harm to other individuals,” Buzbee’s team wrote in response to Hardin’s request for an emergency hearing. “Plaintiffs filed these lawsuits anonymously using pseudonyms as is their right. They did so to protect their privacy and safety and to protect themselves from further revictimization, trauma and humiliation that so often accompanies an assault and sexual assault, which is already occurring online and elsewhere. These victims’ privacy rights outweigh the presumption of openness.”
Hardin said during the hearing in front of the 113th district court that “Deshaun Watson is not responsible for third-party crazies out there.” He also said keeping the accusers’ names private would result in “a mountain of information we may not receive.” Hardin claimed his office received useful information about Solis and Baxley after they went public.
“Over two weeks, we tried to investigate these things privately,” said Hardin, who began representing Watson against these lawsuits in mid-March. “We couldn’t and shouldn’t have to.”
In her ruling, Judge Davis said the case has already taken on a high profile and that not revealing the names of the plaintiff won’t stop the public from speculating.
Hardin noted that Buzbee, who’s frequently posted about the case on social media, “is intent on conducting discovery by Facebook and trial by press conference.”
“In some respects, publicity and advocating for your clients through the media is pretty necessary,” said Dallas-based attorney Michelle Tuegel, who represented sexual abuse victims in lawsuits against USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar. “But how detailed of communication and the forum it’s being communicated in may have weighed in favor of the judge making this ruling. That’s the risk you run.”
Tuegel said the rulings could have a “chilling effect … not only in this case but other cases too.”
At a news conference on Friday afternoon, Hardin said he has not heard from the Houston Police Department regarding any criminal complaints filed against Watson and went on to say that he doesn’t know if more than one criminal complaint has been filed. Buzbee has previously said that up to two additional clients have reported Watson to police, but HPD has only announced one.
Hardin also said he has not heard from the NFL, which is investigating Watson for potentially violating the league’s personal conduct policy. Hardin intends to represent Watson in those matters as well.
Asked whether he’ll take all of these civil suits to trial, Hardin said “absolutely.” He claimed any sexual interactions Watson had with massage therapists were consensual.
“In some of these massages there’s going to be no question — we’ve never run from it — our first announcement has always been about consent, that on some occasions some active sexual activity would have taken place,” Hardin said. “I’m not going into what it is, the nature, the numbers or with whom. … We have always been emphasizing: Never at any time, under any circumstances … did this young man ever engage in anything that was not mutually desired by the other party.”
As for why Watson has worked with so many massage therapists — including 18 who supplied statements of support for Watson — Hardin pointed to the pandemic shutting down spas. He said Watson gets two to three massages per week and often can only schedule them at the last minute because of his busy schedule.
April 8: Watson’s lawyer files motion request plaintiff identify herself
Though two of the women suing Watson have come forward, another 20 remain anonymous. Hardin, has repeatedly lambasted Buzbee, saying he has impeded efforts to investigate the allegations.
On Thursday, Hardin filed a motion requesting the court mandate one of the plaintiffs to identify herself. A spokesman for Hardin’s office said he’ll file a similar motion for all plaintiffs. A hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT Friday in the 113th district court.
“Because Plaintiff’s counsel filed the actions anonymously, Mr. Watson’s counsel can only speculate about Plaintiff’s identity,” Hardin writes in the filing. “Yet, it would be wildly irresponsible for Mr. Watson or his defense team to publicly speculate about it. The risk of being wrong is simply too high. A misidentified person would immediately and involuntarily be drawn into a public media frenzy. As such, if Mr. Watson is ever to have a chance at properly defending himself, he can no longer refrain from requesting that the Court mandate that Plaintiff identify herself as required by the law.”
In the motion, Hardin cites two Texas Rules of Civil Procedure that don’t allow civil lawsuits under a pseudonym. One requires plaintiffs to state their names if they are known. The other requires the defense to receive fair notice of claims. In sexual assault cases, state law only offers minors an exception to these rules.
The motion requests that the plaintiff replead and identify herself within two business days of Thursday’s filing. If the plaintiff fails to do so, the motion requests the court dismiss all claims.
“Mr. Watson’s answer to Ms. Doe’s lawsuit is due on April 19, 2021,” Hardin writes in the motion. “Due to plaintiff’s counsel’s repeated refusals to identify for Mr. Watson’s counsel the real name of Ms. Doe, Mr. Watson’s counsel cannot fully evaluate or plead his defenses to her claims.”
April 7: Watson loses multiple endorsement deals
Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Watson, the company said Wednesday.
“We are deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations and have suspended Deshaun Watson. We will continue to closely monitor the situation,” Nike said in a statement.
Hours after Nike’s announcement, Reliant Energy announced it, too, was severing ties with Watson. Reliant’s parent company, NRG, holds the naming rights to the Texans’ stadium
“Reliant is aware of pending civil lawsuits and a criminal investigation involving Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans quarterback,” Reliant told The Athletic in a statement. “Our relationship with Watson as a brand ambassador was scheduled to end this spring prior to these allegations, and there are no plans for future engagements or contracts with him. We take accusations of this nature very seriously.”
Also Wednesday, Texas-based grocer H-E-B said it had no plans to renew an endorsement deal with Watson and Beats by Dre reportedly ended its relationship with the quarterback.
The announcements come after 22 women filed lawsuits against Watson alleging sexual assault and sexual misconduct and one day after two women went public with their complaints, becoming the first plaintiffs to identify themselves.
April 6: Two women go public with Watson accusations
Two of the women suing Watson for sexual assault and sexual misconduct went public in a news conference at Buzbee’s downtown Houston office Tuesday.
Ashley Solis, who filed the first suit against Watson, read a prepared statement while seated next to Buzbee. Laura Baxley wrote a letter to Watson that was read by attorney Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey, an associate at Buzbee’s law firm. They’re the first of the 22 women suing Watson in civil court to identify themselves publicly. All plaintiffs have been kept anonymous in complaints up to this point, and Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, has accused Buzbee of withholding their identities to impede investigations into the allegations.
Both women accuse Watson of inappropriate exposing himself and touching them with his erect penis. Solis’ interaction with Watson allegedly occurred in March 2020. Baxley’s allegedly occurred in June 2020.
Shortly after the news conference, Hardin’s office released a statement claiming Buzbee sought a $100,000 settlement from Watson on Solis’ behalf before she filed her civil lawsuit. Hardin’s office also shared what it claimed to be an email exchange between Buzbee, Brandfield-Harvey and an attorney from Watson’s agency, Athletes First, that backs up the claim.
April 5: Buzbee files 22nd case against Watson
Like the previous 21 civil complaints, the latest civil lawsuit against Watson alleges he wore minimal covering over his naked body and aggressively directed the woman to massage his anus and groin.
The suit also alleges Watson groped the woman, touched her hand with his erect penis and told her he would not pay her unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement at the end of the session.
April 2: Watson under police investigation
Houston police are investigating Watson after a complainant filed a report regarding Watson on Friday. Police did not detail the nature of the report or the investigation.
“We welcome this long overdue development,” Rusty Hardin, Watson’s lawyer, said in a statement. “Now we will learn the identity of at least one accuser. We will fully cooperate with the Houston Police Department.”
Watson does not currently face criminal charges.
Buzbee, who to this point has filed 21 lawsuits on behalf of women accusing Watson of sexual assault and misconduct, said in a statement late Friday that he was aware the complaint was filed but was “not personally involved in the process.”
Buzbee previously wrote on Instagram that he would not take evidence against Watson to Houston Police, contradicting two prior statements, saying he would “go elsewhere to provide our evidence to investigative authorities.”
March 31: 18 massage therapists defend Watson
As the number of lawsuits accusing Watson of sexual assault and misconduct increased to 21, Hardin’s office released statements from 18 massage therapists who say the accusations are inconsistent with their experiences.
Hardin said his office has received “dozens of unsolicited phone calls, letters, emails and text messages” from professional massage therapists who have worked with Watson, saying they never felt uncomfortable or that he demanded anything outside the scope of a professional massage.
“The following 18 women are voluntarily issuing statements in support of Deshaun — with their names attached,” Hardin said in a news release, adding that the women have collectively “worked with Deshaun more than 130 times over the past five years.”
March 29: Suit alleges Watson is deleting Instagram messages
In one of three suits filed against Watson on March 29, bringing the total to 19, the complaint says “Watson is deleting Instagram messages, and contacting those who formally provided him massages, in an attempt to settle.”
Hardin denied this claim in a statement.
“Like a lot of people, Deshaun regularly deletes past Instagram messages,” Hardin said. “That said, he has not deleted any messages since March 15, the day before the first lawsuit was filed. We categorically deny that he has reached out directly to his accusers in an attempt to settle these cases.”
March 23: Watson’s lawyer accuses woman of attempting blackmail
In a statement, Hardin alleged Buzbee was impeding efforts to investigate the accusations by not releasing names of accusers to Watson’s legal team, which at this point was defending the quarterback against 16 civil lawsuits. Hardin also claimed his office had identified one plaintiff and accused her of previously attempting to blackmail Watson.
The plaintiff in question alleges Watson coerced the woman to perform oral sex on him in December 2020.
Bryan Burney, Watson’s marketing manager, said in a declaration distributed by Hardin’s office that he spoke with this woman in January of this year and she asked to be paid $30,000 for her “indefinite silence.” Burney alleges the woman said her encounter with Watson was consensual but claimed “it was a matter that both she and Deshaun would wish to keep secret and that she would need to be paid for her ‘silence.’” Burney denies paying the woman.
March 22: Buzbee files 7 new cases
Three days after holding a news conference in his downtown Houston office, Buzbee filed seven more lawsuits against Watson, bringing the total cases to 14. In his news conference, Buzbee said he planned to file a minimum of 12 total cases and had talked with 10 other women about filing suit against Watson.
March 18: NFL opens investigation into Watson
Within a few days of his Instagram announcement, Buzbee filed seven civil lawsuits again Watson, and Lisa Friel, the NFL’s special counsel for investigations, sent a letter to Buzbee asking for his client’s cooperation in a league investigation.
Unlike a formal law enforcement investigation, Friel and her team do not have subpoena power, cannot compel the accusers or witnesses to cooperate, and may not have access to police and legal documents. Buzbee said his clients would comply with the NFL’s investigation into the matter “to the extent we can do so given our civil court obligations.”
Buzbee also files four additional lawsuits this day, bringing the total to seven.
March 17: 2 new cases filed against Watson
The day after Buzbee announced he was filing suit against Watson, a total of three cases appear on the Harris County district clerk’s website. One was filed March 16 and the others were filed March 17.
March 16: Buzbee announces he’s filing suit against Watson
Buzbee said in an Instagram post he was filing suit against Watson for alleged misconduct against women but offered minimal details.
In a statement that remains his only public comment on the matter, Watson said he had yet to see a complaint but denied ever treating a woman with “anything other than the utmost respect.”
Watson also called Buzbee, who lost a self-funded bid for mayor, a “publicity-seeking plaintiff’s lawyer.”
To defend him, Watson hired another high-profile Houston attorney in Hardin, who previously represented running back Adrian Peterson in his 2014 child-abuse case and pitcher Roger Clemens in matters related to the Mitchell Report’s allegations of steroid use in baseball.
According to court records, the first lawsuit was filed this day.
(Photo of Deshaun Watson: Carmen Mandato / Getty Images)
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