The Houston Texans have reached settlements with more than two-dozen women who said the organization enabled former Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson's alleged sexual misconduct, according to the accusers' attorney.
The Texans settled cases with 30 women who made, or were planning to make, claims against the team for its supposed role in Watson sexually harassing or assaulting the women during massage therapy sessions, their lawyer, Tony Buzbee, said in a press release on Friday.
The terms of the settlements were confidential, Buzbee said.
One of the accusers whose case was settled on Friday had claimed in court documents that the Texans facilitated Watson's alleged misconduct by providing him with a nondisclosure agreement for the massage session, and that the organization supplied him with the venue where the alleged incident occurred.
Watson had separately reached settlements with 24 accusers last month, while four of the civil lawsuits were ongoing.
The three-time Pro Bowl quarterback, now a member of the Cleveland Browns, did not face criminal charges over the allegations after two separate grand juries in Texas declined to indict him following criminal investigations.
In his statement on Friday, Buzbee seemed to praise the Texans for their handling of the settlements in "contrast" to Watson's response to the civil lawsuits.
“I will have no further comment on the allegations or the Texans’ role, other than to say that there is a marked contrast in the way in which the Texans addressed these allegations, and the way in which Watson’s team has done so. As previously reported, only one of the 30 women who made allegations against the Texans filed a formal lawsuit. That particular lawsuit will be dismissed with prejudice as soon as the appropriate settlement paperwork is complete."
Buzbee also once again praised one of Watson's accusers, Ashley Solis, and reiterated that her civil lawsuit and three others would continue.
“It takes an incredible amount of fortitude for a victim of sexual misconduct to come forward. It is even more difficult when the alleged wrongdoer is famous, rich, and powerful. As I’ve said before, these cases started with one phone call, from one brave and strong woman: Ashley Solis. Because of her willingness to speak out, soon others followed. I admire Ashley Solis and the other woman who were courageous enough to make their voices heard. I hope their bravery serves as an example to others who have been subjected to similar conduct. Every story has a hero – in this story, that hero is Ashley Solis and the other woman who, despite the ridicule, criticism, and vitriol directed at them, endured.
“The four filed cases against Deshaun Watson will continue. We hope to try them all in the spring of next year. In the meantime, we will continue to do the important work to prepare for such.”
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