A Houston woman filed a civil lawsuit against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson on Monday, alleging sexual assault and battery that occurred in October 2020.
The woman, identified in the lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” alleges that Watson sexually assaulted and assaulted her before a dinner date at her apartment.
According to the lawsuit, Watson, who played for the Houston Texans at the time, met the woman at a local restaurant, got her phone number and suggested they go on a date to a shopping mall, but the woman didn’t want to meet Watson in public so she suggested they go on a dinner date to her apartment.
Before Watson arrived at the woman’s home, the woman claims he called and yelled at her because he was having trouble finding her address. He eventually showed up, and after the woman got ready in the bathroom, she returned to her bedroom to find Watson “lying face down on the bed, completely naked,” according to the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Watson then asked for a massage while pointing to his knees and groin. The woman said she wasn’t a masseuse, but Watson continued to ask if there was anything she wanted in exchange for a massage.
According to the lawsuit, the woman did not have time to respond before Watson “partially removed Jane Doe’s clothing and penetrated her vaginally without her express or implied consent.” After being sexually assaulted for “several minutes,” the woman was able to break free from Watson and grabbed a heavy object to protect herself.
According to the lawsuit, Watson became “infuriated” and “stormed out” of the woman’s apartment to end the exchange.
The NFL has declined to comment on the lawsuit, and the Browns have not yet been reached for comment.
Watson was suspended for 11 games in 2022 after more than two dozen women came forward with allegations of sexual assault or inappropriate behavior during massages.
No criminal charges were filed against Watson, but in the summer of 2022, he reached settlements in 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits he had filed.
Watson, 28, was traded to the Browns in March 2022. He started in Cleveland’s season-opening 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, completing 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
