The Deshaun Watson civil case seems to be getting messier and messier after more women came forward to sue him for sexual misconduct and joined the civil suit against him.
Before the civil case got started though, Deshaun Watson had a criminal case that he had to deal with. It went to a grand jury but they voted not to charge Watson with anything. Watson then signed a $230 million guaranteed contract after being traded to the Browns which made a lot of people mad.
The NY Post later released an article detailing Watson’s massages where he allegedly saw 66 different women in a 17 month period. They also talked about how Watson’s attorney Rusty Hardin had a lot of communication with the Harris County assistant district attorney Johna Stallings.
That raised some eyebrows and made people think that Stallings was working with Hardin to influence the grand jury. The Harris County DA, Kim Ogg, was recently interviewed because of this on the Mike Meltser Podcast on Sports and Law and said everything they did was totally normal saying
“Totally normal,” Ogg said. “We contact defense lawyers. They contact us. A communication is far different than collaborating or working together to achieve an outcome. That just didn’t happen. It’s not ethical. And it’s not what we do. And it’s not what happened in this case.”
“So I think there was a lot of artistic liberty taken by the writer in that case, who made a presumption — which we’re not allowed to do — that anytime someone shares a text of a phone call, that they’re colluding,” Ogg said. “We don’t work with the plaintiffs’ lawyers, for the reason I said. We don’t want the cross-contamination, if you will, of a bias or motive being alleged against us in terms of trying to put our fingers on the scale in our system to help the other side. So it’s different when you’re dealing with a criminal defense lawyer, they’re representing a person we can’t talk to without them, who we need to notify about where to be or what to do.”
“When they have a packet as was talked about in this case, it’s funny, that’s just a local custom, allowing defense lawyers to put together a packet,” Ogg said. “You won’t find any support for it in the law, you won’t find any protocol for it because it’s something that’s just been crafted through literally practice between our criminal defense bar and our prosecutors. And what we do is they put together what they want the grand jury to see or hear, and we’ll present it. And we present it because we want to know, too. What’s their side? What are they presenting? And remember, we cannot compel their client, or target, to testify.”
Tony Buzbee, who represents the 24 women suing Watson, heavenly criticized the communication between the DA’s office and Hardin saying he contacted the office once on behalf of one of his clients to make them available pertaining to any evidence and said his team did too but they wouldn’t even talk to them. He also said he didn’t know they had regular communication by email and text. Ogg went on to say even though a grand jury doesn’t indict that doesn’t mean a person is innocent that is why they have civil trials to make sure if there is some guilt they can be punished.
Right now, Watson is getting time in with his new team and there have been reports that the NFL is seeking a full season suspension.
Daniel Bell is an experienced senior NBA reporter for Black Sports Online and Tyler Media’s 107.7 The Franchise where he also cohosts a radio show. In addition, he has been featured in regular TV spots for Fox’s Living in Oklahoma. He has been covering the NBA for over five years and has amassed an impressive résumé. Daniel has been a highly respected credentialed media member gaining exclusive access to some of the games greatest players and personalities and covered every aspect of the NBA, including the NBA Finals, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Summer League and the NBA Draft and combine. During the regular season, he covers the Oklahoma City Thunder at home and on the road. Over the years Daniel has garnered respect and praise for his work ethic, distinctive personality, and overall demeanor.
