CLEVELAND — Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is facing a new lawsuit accusing him of sexual misconduct against a massage therapist almost two years ago.
The lawsuit filed in a Harris County, Texas court claims Watson reached out to the masseuse by messaging her on Instagram on Dec. 17, 2020.
The woman, only identified as “Jane Doe” agreed to Waton’s request for a massage and met him at a hotel the next day.
Although she found it odd that an NFL player would reach out to a masseuse who is not well known, she was trying to grow her business and was “encouraged that a local professional football player would seek her services.”
She arrived at the hotel and began setting up her table when Watson allegedly walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel.
During the massage, the lawsuit says Watson “continually pressured [her] into massaging his private area.”
After refusing to have sex with Watson, he pressured the woman into giving him oral sex, according to the lawsuit.
After the incident, the lawsuit said Watson continued to text the woman and requested to see her again.
According to WKYC in Cleveland, an attorney representing the woman said she decided to come forward with her experience after meeting with the lawfirm several times.
“The plaintiff came to us to see if we would be a good fit to help her stand up and speak out against Deshaun Watson,” said attorney Anissah Nguyen, from Universal Law Group. “She knows there is incredible value and power with sharing her despite knowing it will bring on the hard conversation.”
The lawsuit says the woman is seeking “minimal compensatory damages” for the mental anguish she has suffered.
The quarterback was accused of sexual assault and harassment by two dozen women during massage therapy sessions when he played for the Houston Texans. He has settled 23 of the 24 civil lawsuits filed by the women.
The NFL suspended Watson 11 games in response to the accusations.