A highly anticipated court hearing in the civil lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe took an unexpected turn when the accuser’s attorney failed to appear in a Las Vegas courtroom. The lawsuit, filed by a woman under the pseudonym Jane Doe but outed by Sharpe as Gabriella Zuniga, accuses Sharpe of sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress, seeking $50 million in damages. The absence of the plaintiff’s legal representation, led by high-profile attorney Tony Buzbee, left Clark County District Court Judge Anna Albertson visibly disappointed and has sparked speculation about the case’s trajectory.
The lawsuit stems from allegations that Sharpe, 56, engaged in non-consensual acts during a nearly two-year relationship that began in 2023 when the accuser, then 19, met him at a Los Angeles gym. The complaint details a pattern of controlling and abusive behavior, including two alleged rapes in October 2024 and January 2025. Sharpe has vehemently denied the accusations, calling the lawsuit a “shakedown” orchestrated by Buzbee, known for representing clients in high-profile cases against figures like Deshaun Watson and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Sharpe’s legal team, led by Lanny J. Davis, has released explicit text messages suggesting a consensual relationship involving role-playing and sexual fantasies, though Buzbee claims these predate the alleged assaults.
At the July 9 hearing, Sharpe was represented by attorney Robert DeMarco, who requested a 45-day adjournment to review the case’s progress, which Judge Albertson granted, scheduling the next hearing for September 3. The absence of Buzbee or any representative for Jane Doe drew scrutiny. Local CBS affiliate KLAS-TV reported the judge’s frustration, and Nevada attorney Robert Draskovich, not involved in the case, called the no-show “strange” and detrimental to the accuser’s interests. Social media posts on X echoed this sentiment, with users mocking the absence and questioning the strength of the plaintiff’s case.
Sharpe’s team has leveraged the incident to bolster their narrative, pointing to the no-show as evidence of a weak case. They’ve also highlighted a prior $10 million settlement offer rejected by the accuser, which some interpret as an admission of guilt, while others see it as a strategic move to avoid public fallout. Sharpe, who temporarily stepped away from ESPN duties in April 2025, continues to maintain his innocence, promising to fight the claims vigorously.
The no-show raises questions about Buzbee’s strategy and the accuser’s commitment to the case. Was it a logistical oversight, a deliberate tactic, or a sign of internal issues? Legal analysts suggest it could weaken the plaintiff’s credibility, but the case’s merits remain unaffected for now. As the September hearing looms, all eyes will be on whether Buzbee’s team regroups or if this misstep signals deeper challenges. For Sharpe, the adjournment offers time to strengthen his defense, but the court of public opinion remains divided.
No. We didn’t miss a hearing. We don’t miss hearings.
What happened was that Sharpe’s legal team agreed that we didn’t need the hearing but they mistakenly failed to remove it from the court’s docket. Here is the statement they issued:
Statement by Shannon Sharpe’s Legal Team… pic.twitter.com/OyammDvHtO
— Tony Buzbee (@TonyBuzbee2) July 11, 2025
