Attorney: Texans to be added as defendants in lawsuits against Watson
The lawyer representing the 24 women who've filed civil lawsuits against Deshaun Watson said his law firm will soon add the Houston Texans, among others, as defendants in the lawsuits against the quarterback, according to ESPN's Sarah Barshop.
"Our team has thoroughly vetted each case. ... These women are the true heroes in this sordid story," Tony Buzbee said in a statement Wednesday. "What has become clear is that the Houston Texans organization and their contracting 'massage therapy company' facilitated Deshaun Watson's conduct.
"In many of these cases, the Texans provided the opportunity for this conduct to occur. We believe the Texans organization was well aware of Watson's issues but failed to act."
On Tuesday, The New York Times' Jenny Vrentas reported that the Texans booked massage appointments with 66 women over a 17-month period. The list of women includes the 24 who've filed lawsuits.
Vrentas added that the Texans provided a hotel room for Watson at The Houstonian, where several of the massages took place. Further, Vrentas reported that the Texans' director of security, Brent Naccara, furnished a nondisclosure agreement for Watson, who then gave the agreement to his massage therapists to sign.
"The Texans also provided massage tables and other support for Watson's proclivities, ostensibly to protect their 'asset,'" Buzbee said. "We intend to make sure all involved in Watson's conduct are held accountable, in addition to, and including, Watson himself."
The Texans, who declined to comment on the nondisclosure agreement, have repeatedly said they first found out about the allegations against Watson when the first lawsuit was filed.
Watson has been accused in 24 lawsuits and 10 criminal complaints of lewd and coercive behavior while receiving massages from women. The NFL is probing the cases.
Those incidents cited in the lawsuits allegedly took place between March 2020 and March 2021. The first lawsuit was filed March 16, 2021.
The Cleveland Browns acquired Watson from the Texans in a March trade. Cleveland then immediately gave him a new five-year contract worth $230 million fully guaranteed.
The trade took place days after a Texas grand jury declined to indict Watson on criminal charges. A second grand jury also declined to indict him shortly thereafter.
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