Deshaun Watson settles 20 of 24 lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson reached settlements with 20 of the 24 women who sued him and accused him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage sessions, the attorney representing the women announced Tuesday.

"Today I announce that all cases against Deshaun Watson, with the exception of four, have settled," attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement, according to ESPN's Jake Trotter. "We are working through the paperwork related to those settlements. Once we have done so, those particular cases will be dismissed. The terms and amounts of the settlements are confidential. We won't comment further on the settlements or those cases."

One of the cases still outstanding is the lawsuit of Ashley Solis, the first plaintiff to sue Watson.

"Ashley Solis is one of the heroes of this story," Buzbee stated. "Her case has not settled and thus her story and that of the other three brave women will continue. I look forward to trying these cases in due course, consistent with other docket obligations and the court's schedule."

Watson remains subject to an NFL investigation into his conduct. The first lawsuit against the quarterback was filed March 16, 2021, and the incidents cited in the lawsuits took place between March 2020 and March 2021.

"Today's development has no impact on the collectively bargained disciplinary process," NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday, according to Trotter.

Watson didn't play last year after requesting a trade from the Houston Texans. The Browns acquired him from the Texans on March 18 and signed him to a fully guaranteed five-year, $230-million contract.

The 26-year-old was traded days after a grand jury in Texas declined to indict him on criminal charges. A second grand jury did the same.

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