HOUSTON – On Saturday, attorney Tony Buzbee announced his team will be submitting affidavits and evidence from several women, who accused Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct, to the Houston Police Department and the Harris County District Attorney on Monday.
“We will request that a grand jury be empaneled to considered the evidence we provide,” Buzbee said in a Facebook post.
On Friday, four more lawsuits were filed Friday against Watson by Buzbee’s law firm on behalf of female massage professionals. Buzbee’s office said a total of seven lawsuits have been filed pertaining to Watson.
In a press conference Friday afternoon, Buzbee detailed some of the lawsuits against Watson.
“I understood this case was going to generate a lot of interest,” he said.
Buzbee said his office is now representing 12 women and spoke with an additional 10 women who are all reporting similar conduct from Watson. He said most of the victims work in the massage industry such as spas, at home, or work at The Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa, where at least one of the incidents happened at. Buzbee also stated that one person was referred to Watson by the Texans organization.
Buzbee described most of the victims as single mothers of different races. He said they all allege the same or similar conduct. Buzbee said three of his clients are going under intensive therapy.
The allegations outlined in the lawsuits are disturbing. Some of the more graphic excerpts from the lawsuit were read Friday, by a Buzbee colleague.
“After he was finished, he offered no apology. The plaintiff was shaking, violated and ashamed. She was so shaken she defecated on herself and ran to the bathroom to clean herself up,” Attorney, Cornelia Brandfield-Harvey, recited from a civil complaint.
Buzbee said one of the allegations against Watson was recently reported as of this month. Buzbee said he made contact with Watson’s lawyer, who Buzbee said minimized the allegations and didn’t take it seriously.
“This case is about female empowerment and taking it back,” Buzbee said.
KPRC2 Legal analyst, Brian Wice said Friday that police will almost certainly get involved, as the NFL already has.
“The sheer volume of complainants suggests that on some level that these allegations and they’re just allegations at this point, could well be true,” Wice said.
Friday, Buzbee confirmed that he had received an official inquiry from the Houston Police Department, and planned to put alleged victims who want to come forward, in touch with them.
HPD responded to Buzbee’s statement in regards to the department making contact with his office, stating on Twitter, “At this time, HPD is unaware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations contained in his recently filed lawsuits and no incident reports regarding these allegations have been filed in our jurisdiction.”
At this time, HPD is unaware of any contact between HPD and Houston attorney Tony Buzbee regarding the allegations contained in his recently filed lawsuits and no incident reports regarding these allegations have been filed in our jurisdiction.
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) March 19, 2021
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He also addressed the backlash and death threats against him and his family that he’s received since the announcement of the lawsuits.
“We don’t be deterred,” Buzbee said. “Your comments won’t deter us. We’re prepared, and we do our homework.”
He also dispelled rumors about him working with the McNair family.
“I live near the McNair family but has nothing to do with the Texans or free agency or timing. The Texans is not a team I follow,” Buzbee said.
Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, released a statement Friday about the allegations:
“I’m extremely proud to represent Deshaun Watson and wholly stand behind him against what we believe are meritless allegations.
However, we will wait to comment in detail until we’ve completed our review of the numerous, evolving allegations from Mr. Buzbee.
We will respond next week and ask you to keep an open mind until we do so.”
Here are the latest lawsuits, which described by Buzbee’s office as involving women in massage appointments with Watson, and can be read in full below.
The situations are a “disturbing pattern” with Watson, which involves him exposing his private areas and touching the women with his penis, according to the lawsuits.
