Death to Google Ads! Texans Talk Tip Jar! 🍺😎👍
Thanks for your support!

Sexual Assault Suits Against Watson

Corrosion

Idealist
Staff member
Can you really call that news?

You knew someone had to go there .... Its low hanging fruit.

Brady Quinn : “I had heard that there was something said between the ownership… something racial in nature, and that that bridge was burned and he did not want to play for the Texans anymore.”
Not the smallest fraction of truth to this.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
The statement re. the NDA is worded somewhat merky to me...........who wanted it?......it almost sounds like Watson did.......but that's contra to what Hardin said earlier???
Clarity presented by THE DAILY MAIL..........Watson and Hardin, not Buzbee and the "victims," insisted on the Non Disclosure Agreement:

************************************************************************************************************************************************

1636032692708.png

Settlement talks between Texans' Deshaun Watson and the 22 women suing him for sexual misconduct 'break down after his attorney insisted on nondisclosure agreements': Miami 'pulled trade offer for QB' as a result
  • Settlement talks have reportedly broken down between Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson and the 22 women suing him for sexual misconduct
  • The plaintiffs' attorney says the issue is a nondisclosure agreement stipulation
  • Tony Buzbee, the women's attorney, said the NDA is a 'deal breaker' for his clients
  • Neither Buzbee nor Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, had acknowledged that they were engaged in mediation, although it had been speculated in the media
  • In March and April, Watson was accused of forcing women to perform oral sex on him, disrobing and forcibly touching massage therapists and other women
  • The alleged incidents all took place in 2020 and 2021, according to court files
  • Watson, 26, has denied the allegations, and through Hardin, has said that any sexual contact between himself and the women was consensual
  • Watson, a first-round pick who started for three seasons, has been benched in Houston following the accusations and his own reported trade demands
  • The Dolphins were reportedly interested in trading for Watson, but backed off when his attorneys failed to get a settlement before Tuesday's trade deadline
By ALEX RASKIN SPORTS NEWS EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:03 EDT, 4 November 2021 | UPDATED: 09:17 EDT, 4 November 2021


Settlement talks have broken down between Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson and the 22 women suing him for sexual misconduct because his attorneys insisted the plaintiffs sign nondisclosure agreements.
'In what was submitted to us, there were nondisclosure agreements and many of the women pushed back on those,' the plaintiffs' attorney, Tony Buzbee, told Houston's Fox 26.
Although Buzbee changed the language in the nondisclosure proposal 'substantially,' he said Watson's stipulation was ultimately a 'deal breaker.'

'There were still some women who said, ''I'm never going to sign that,''' Buzbee told Fox 25.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Clarity presented by THE DAILY MAIL..........Watson and Hardin, not Buzbee and the "victims," insisted on the Non Disclosure Agreement:

************************************************************************************************************************************************

View attachment 9299

Settlement talks between Texans' Deshaun Watson and the 22 women suing him for sexual misconduct 'break down after his attorney insisted on nondisclosure agreements': Miami 'pulled trade offer for QB' as a result
  • Settlement talks have reportedly broken down between Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson and the 22 women suing him for sexual misconduct
  • The plaintiffs' attorney says the issue is a nondisclosure agreement stipulation
  • Tony Buzbee, the women's attorney, said the NDA is a 'deal breaker' for his clients
  • Neither Buzbee nor Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, had acknowledged that they were engaged in mediation, although it had been speculated in the media
  • In March and April, Watson was accused of forcing women to perform oral sex on him, disrobing and forcibly touching massage therapists and other women
  • The alleged incidents all took place in 2020 and 2021, according to court files
  • Watson, 26, has denied the allegations, and through Hardin, has said that any sexual contact between himself and the women was consensual
  • Watson, a first-round pick who started for three seasons, has been benched in Houston following the accusations and his own reported trade demands
  • The Dolphins were reportedly interested in trading for Watson, but backed off when his attorneys failed to get a settlement before Tuesday's trade deadline
By ALEX RASKIN SPORTS NEWS EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 09:03 EDT, 4 November 2021 | UPDATED: 09:17 EDT, 4 November 2021
Keep speaking the truth.

Hopefully some will learn.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
More interesting details.............

*******************************************************

Attorney for women suing Deshaun Watson says settlement talks broke down over NDAs
Nov 3, 2021

The attorney representing 22 women suing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson says settlement talks between the two sides broke down before the NFL's trade deadline because of language Watson's legal team insisted they include in nondisclosure agreements.

"In what was submitted to us, there were nondisclosure agreements and many of the women pushed back on those," attorney Tony Buzbee told Houston television station Fox 26 in an interview Tuesday evening.

Buzbee said he and his colleagues modified the language in the proposed nondisclosure agreements "substantially" but added that "there were still some women who said, 'I'm never going to sign that.'"
He told Fox 26 that the NDAs were ultimately a "deal breaker" in efforts to settle the cases.
Buzbee's interview is the first confirmation from either of the legal teams involved in Watson's civil cases that the two sides had entered a period of mediation.

"Now that the heat is off I probably won't be getting calls from the other side wanting to settle the case," Buzbee said, a reference to the pressure involved in settling the lawsuits prior to the NFL's Tuesday trade deadline.

Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, did not respond to ESPN's request for comment about the settlement talks. In July, Hardin told ESPN that Watson would not sign any settlement that included a confidentiality agreement. "I do not want anybody to be saying that this guy paid off women to stay quiet," he said at the time.

Buzbee also said in his interview with Fox 26 that Watson's team appeared willing to settle a portion of the 22 civil cases.

"First it was, 'We need to get 22 cases settled' and then it was, 'Well, maybe we can get 20 cases settled,' and, finally, there was some discussion of maybe even less than that," Buzbee said. "But based on the terms that were submitted to us, we weren't going to get 22 settlements. Period."
Watson is the defendant in 22 civil cases filed by women in four different states. The lawsuits allege that he sexually assaulted or behaved inappropriately during massage sessions. At least 10 women have filed complaints about Watson to the Houston Police Department and a criminal investigation is also ongoing.

"From my point of view, I'm looking forward to taking Mr. Watson's testimony in February," Buzbee said Tuesday.

"We're going to prepare the cases for trial because, ultimately, people can commentate and give their opinion but the ultimate opinion that matters is 12 people that sit on a jury in Harris County," he said. "You know, all these so-called experts, keyboard warriors who think they know what happened in those massage rooms, they don't know. I know and these women know and time is on our side. We're going to prepare the case and we're going to try the case."
 

OptimisticTexan

2024 / Rebuilding Block 4 After Playoffs / Texans
if Watson actually attempted to settle at this point, then I don’t know what else’s to say because now the opposing attorney is on record that you tried. Especially after claiming Buzbee’s clients were under FBI investigation for extortion
……it’ll be just as easily speculated that he tried to get a settlement accomplished to help initiate a trade before the NFL deadline. I do not believe this is to be construed as Watson admitting guilt
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
……it’ll be just as easily speculated that he tried to get a settlement accomplished to help initiate a trade before the NFL deadline. I do not believe this is to be construed as Watson admitting guilt
Exactly. At this point. Both lawyers will make public statements without any context and all it leads to is speculation. For example, previously, Hardin said that they wanted financial terms to be made public and Buzbee didn't want the public to know the amounts. Was this the sticking point that Buzbee is now saying that they would never sign? Who knows?
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
"Now that the heat is off I probably won't be getting calls from the other side wanting to settle the case," Buzbee said, a reference to the pressure involved in settling the lawsuits prior to the NFL's Tuesday trade deadline.
I understand what he's saying, but it doesn't make sense to me from Watson's pov. Does he plan on settling all 22 on draft day? Or the day before the training camp?

If he wants to be traded, he needs to settle these asap
 

Earl34

Hall of Fame
I understand what he's saying, but it doesn't make sense to me from Watson's pov. Does he plan on settling all 22 on draft day? Or the day before the training camp?

If he wants to be traded, he needs to settle these asap
That's true but doesn't the details prevent a settlement from happening ASAP. For example, does Watson want the financial details of the settlement to be made public? If it seems too high, public perception is he paid off his accusers and is guilty. Does Buzbee wants the financial details made public? If it seems too low, public perception will be that he didn't have much of a case and it was a money grab.

Who will blink first? Where is the middle ground?
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
That's true but doesn't the details prevent a settlement from happening ASAP. For example, does Watson want the financial details of the settlement to be made public? If it seems too high, public perception is he paid off his accusers and is guilty. Does Buzbee wants the financial details made public? If it seems too low, public perception will be that he didn't have much of a case and it was a money grab.

Who will blink first? Where is the middle ground?
He’s not getting traded until something happens here. Does he want to get trade?

Draft day comes & the situation is basically the same, he’s not getting traded.

True enough, it might be something else next time. The criminal cases, the settlement details, another dozen cases. But if it were me I’d want to remove as many obstacles as I can. & the fact that getting these settled will be impacted by the pressure of getting a trade, I could pay a lot & not be admitting anything other than wanting to get on with getting on.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
More interesting details.............

*******************************************************

Attorney for women suing Deshaun Watson says settlement talks broke down over NDAs
Nov 3, 2021

The attorney representing 22 women suing Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson says settlement talks between the two sides broke down before the NFL's trade deadline because of language Watson's legal team insisted they include in nondisclosure agreements.

"In what was submitted to us, there were nondisclosure agreements and many of the women pushed back on those," attorney Tony Buzbee told Houston television station Fox 26 in an interview Tuesday evening.

Buzbee said he and his colleagues modified the language in the proposed nondisclosure agreements "substantially" but added that "there were still some women who said, 'I'm never going to sign that.'"
He told Fox 26 that the NDAs were ultimately a "deal breaker" in efforts to settle the cases.
Buzbee's interview is the first confirmation from either of the legal teams involved in Watson's civil cases that the two sides had entered a period of mediation.

"Now that the heat is off I probably won't be getting calls from the other side wanting to settle the case," Buzbee said, a reference to the pressure involved in settling the lawsuits prior to the NFL's Tuesday trade deadline.

Watson's attorney, Rusty Hardin, did not respond to ESPN's request for comment about the settlement talks. In July, Hardin told ESPN that Watson would not sign any settlement that included a confidentiality agreement. "I do not want anybody to be saying that this guy paid off women to stay quiet," he said at the time.

Buzbee also said in his interview with Fox 26 that Watson's team appeared willing to settle a portion of the 22 civil cases.

"First it was, 'We need to get 22 cases settled' and then it was, 'Well, maybe we can get 20 cases settled,' and, finally, there was some discussion of maybe even less than that," Buzbee said. "But based on the terms that were submitted to us, we weren't going to get 22 settlements. Period."
Watson is the defendant in 22 civil cases filed by women in four different states. The lawsuits allege that he sexually assaulted or behaved inappropriately during massage sessions. At least 10 women have filed complaints about Watson to the Houston Police Department and a criminal investigation is also ongoing.

"From my point of view, I'm looking forward to taking Mr. Watson's testimony in February," Buzbee said Tuesday.

"We're going to prepare the cases for trial because, ultimately, people can commentate and give their opinion but the ultimate opinion that matters is 12 people that sit on a jury in Harris County," he said. "You know, all these so-called experts, keyboard warriors who think they know what happened in those massage rooms, they don't know. I know and these women know and time is on our side. We're going to prepare the case and we're going to try the case."
Ughh Oh

Looks like somebody was lying again.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
I understand what he's saying, but it doesn't make sense to me from Watson's pov. Does he plan on settling all 22 on draft day? Or the day before the training camp?

If he wants to be traded, he needs to settle these asap
I'm sorry, but although many feel that he is an elite QB, it would be hard bent to believe that he posses elite sense. I doubt that he wants to settle with the "victims" (his side has essentially said as much in the past). If he does settle, I believe it will only be if he sees no alternative. He may also be convinced that the Grand Jury will not indict him...........because he "did nothing," and will want to at least wait until he is exonerated to consider settling............which could be another poor decision. If he does get indicted, I doubt Buzbee and his clients will agree to settle since the $$$$$ amounts will only rise...........and his clients will probably want satisfaction in court...............if they win in court, between Watson's attorneys' fees and the monies rewarded, his multi-million dollar contract may ultimately melt away to pocket change. Draft Day and TC may end up being seen by one or both sides as only empty artificial time lines.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I'm sorry, but although many feel that he is an elite QB, it would be hard bent to believe that he posses elite sense. I doubt that he wants to settle with the "victims" (his side has essentially said as much in the past). If he does settle, I believe it will only be if he sees no alternative. He may also be convinced that the Grand Jury will not indict him...........because he "did nothing," and will want to at least wait until he is exonerated to consider settling............which could be another poor decision. If he does get indicted, I doubt Buzbee and his clients will agree to settle since the $$$$$ amounts will only rise...........and his clients will probably want satisfaction in court...............if they win in court, between Watson's attorneys' fees and the monies rewarded, his multi-million dollar contract may ultimately melt away to pocket change. Draft Day and TC may end up being seen by one or both sides as only empty artificial time lines.
Well, he approached Buzbee in an attempt to settle so he can be traded.

sounds like he wants to be traded.

another opportunity is going to present itself the closer we get to the draft. Are teams going to get into a bidding frenzy if he doesn’t show any progress on this front?
 

TripleTap

Dead Wood
Let’s see, if I remember correctly, in the first go around Watson & Co wanted the payment amounts known and Buzzbee & Co. wanted the numbers sealed. Now we’re talking NDAs and Buzzbee‘s kids want none of that, and Watson’s troops insist on having them.

something odd in there, ain’t?

This mess ain’t getting any cleaner or clearer.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
That's true but doesn't the details prevent a settlement from happening ASAP. For example, does Watson want the financial details of the settlement to be made public? If it seems too high, public perception is he paid off his accusers and is guilty. Does Buzbee wants the financial details made public? If it seems too low, public perception will be that he didn't have much of a case and it was a money grab.

Who will blink first? Where is the middle ground?
Will the amounts of any settlements actually change anyone's opinion? I think those who think he's guilty now will think so after a settlement and those who think he's innocent will say it was a smart decision to settle before a trade. Of course some will argue if innocent, he would not agree to pay anything.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
He’s not getting traded until something happens here. Does he want to get trade?

Draft day comes & the situation is basically the same, he’s not getting traded.

True enough, it might be something else next time. The criminal cases, the settlement details, another dozen cases. But if it were me I’d want to remove as many obstacles as I can. & the fact that getting these settled will be impacted by the pressure of getting a trade, I could pay a lot & not be admitting anything other than wanting to get on with getting on.
I think Watson and perhaps his attorney are thinking that he will be able to resolve the Civil claims for a somewhat lower amount and nothing happens of significance with the criminal claims. Also I think they are hoping that the pressure of his 2022 contract will force the Texans to trade him before draft.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
if I remember correctly, in the first go around Watson & Co wanted the payment amounts known and Buzzbee & Co. wanted the numbers sealed.
All we know is that Watson's team didn't want an NDA as part of the settlement & Buzbee's team did.

It was speculated Buzzbee didn't want the amount to be known, but we really don't know. Maybe they wanted to conceal what they did agree to do before they said no.
 

thunderkyss

Just win baby!!!
Staff member
Contributor's Club
I think Watson and perhaps his attorney are thinking that he will be able to resolve the Civil claims for a somewhat lower amount and nothing happens of significance with the criminal claims. Also I think they are hoping that the pressure of his 2022 contract will force the Texans to trade him before draft.
They were willing to trade him a few days ago. No settlement on the 22 cases, no trade.

Are you saying the Texans will trade him at a discount to the team he wants to go to? Without any settlements? Miami would say no.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Well, he approached Buzbee in an attempt to settle so he can be traded.

sounds like he wants to be traded.

another opportunity is going to present itself the closer we get to the draft. Are teams going to get into a bidding frenzy if he doesn’t show any progress on this front?
Tell me how those depositions turn out and I can give you a better idea of whether he gets traded before the 2022 draft.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Let’s see, if I remember correctly, in the first go around Watson & Co wanted the payment amounts known and Buzzbee & Co. wanted the numbers sealed. Now we’re talking NDAs and Buzzbee‘s kids want none of that, and Watson’s troops insist on having them.

something odd in there, ain’t?

This mess ain’t getting any cleaner or clearer.
Now it comes down to which camp you think is lying.
 

maverick512000

Hall of Fame
I find Buzbee’s statement that it was the NDA that was the deal breaker very interesting. NDAs are par for the course in these kind of settlements and Buzbee would know that so I can’t help but wonder what the language was that sent the red flag.

Only thing I can think of is it was language that would allow the Watson team to spin the story however they wanted without the accusers able to give a counter story.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Well, he approached Buzbee in an attempt to settle so he can be traded.

sounds like he wants to be traded.

another opportunity is going to present itself the closer we get to the draft. Are teams going to get into a bidding frenzy if he doesn’t show any progress on this front?
He was Never going to be traded this season .
This is true, there was never a deal in place as some reported and Caserio was never going to trade him before the trade deadline.

He is not likely to be traded in the offseason if the legal issues aren't resolved.
[Information I have just received from a very reliable inside source]

But... Caserio set out to get some things in this trade deadline dance, and he got them.

1) Through some... negotiating ploys, we'll call them, Caserio flushed out Stephen Ross to join in with the rest of his top FO guys in tampering with Watson. Ross told Watson he would pay for all of his settlements out of his own pocket if he'd get them done. And Watson/Hardin tried to get them done, and done with very strong NDAs. Watson/Hardin/Mulugheta had been saying for months, "No settlements, no NDAs of any kind." All BS. Caserio just tricked Watson into admitting he will settle the cases with NDAs, which increase his trade value.

2) Miami has been colluding with Watson & his people for many months, everybody knows it and that is tampering. But instead of reporting it to the league office, which is not his style, Nick let Grier and Flores and finally Ross tamper themselves into a PR nightmare. Chris Grier's post trade deadline presser was a disaster, he looked like a fool and he lied and lied and even lost his composure a little bit. Caserio got his pound of flesh without killing a future deal, and the next time Miami comes for Watson all the backchannel shenanigans trying to reduce the compensation will have no merit. Watson, by way of Ross, was ready to settle with NDAs. So pay up or another team will.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Will the amounts of any settlements actually change anyone's opinion? I think those who think he's guilty now will think so after a settlement and those who think he's innocent will say it was a smart decision to settle before a trade. Of course some will argue if innocent, he would not agree to pay anything.
It's not only the amounts of monies that can be revealed without an NDA...............more detailed actions that have not come out publicly would be nothing but potentially damning to Watson now.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
This is true, there was never a deal in place as some reported and Caserio was never going to trade him before the trade deadline.


[Information I have just received from a very reliable inside source]

But... Caserio set out to get some things in this trade deadline dance, and he got them.

1) Through some... negotiating ploys, we'll call them, Caserio flushed out Stephen Ross to join in with the rest of his top FO guys in tampering with Watson. Ross told Watson he would pay for all of his settlements out of his own pocket if he'd get them done. And Watson/Hardin tried to get them done, and done with very strong NDAs. Watson/Hardin/Mulugheta had been saying for months, "No settlements, no NDAs of any kind." All BS. Caserio just tricked Watson into admitting he will settle the cases with NDAs, which increase his trade value.

2) Miami has been colluding with Watson & his people for many months, everybody knows it and that is tampering. But instead of reporting it to the league office, which is not his style, Nick let Grier and Flores and finally Ross tamper themselves into a PR nightmare. Chris Grier's post trade deadline presser was a disaster, he looked like a fool and he lied and lied and even lost his composure a little bit. Caserio got his pound of flesh without killing a future deal, and the next time Miami comes for Watson all the backchannel shenanigans trying to reduce the compensation will have no merit. Watson, by way of Ross, was ready to settle with NDAs. So pay up or another team will.
Think Goodell will pursue tampering done in such an obvious way? Would be cool to get Miami's round one and still be able to trade him before draft. This raises my opinion on Caserio.
 

badboy

Hall of Fame
It's not only the amounts of monies that can be revealed without an NDA...............more detailed actions that have not come out publicly would be nothing but potentially damning to Watson now.
Can a judge in criminal or civil court order NDA's 'voided' for trial? If not what about a judge in Federal trial?
 

frethack

Rookie
I think its quite obvious who has the upper hand here .... It aint Watson and it aint Harden.

Its Buzbee & Caserio.
I hope so.

Past events make complete sense with some confirmation that Miami has been tapering with Watson in a big way. When the story broke about Ross asking permission to speak to Watson, it sent up red flags because I was working under the assumption they were colluding since last offseason. Hopefully this turns into leverage.

I also hope Miami and Watson get what they deserve in the end (and no...I don't mean an oily finger).

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
This is true, there was never a deal in place as some reported and Caserio was never going to trade him before the trade deadline.


[Information I have just received from a very reliable inside source]

But... Caserio set out to get some things in this trade deadline dance, and he got them.

1) Through some... negotiating ploys, we'll call them, Caserio flushed out Stephen Ross to join in with the rest of his top FO guys in tampering with Watson. Ross told Watson he would pay for all of his settlements out of his own pocket if he'd get them done. And Watson/Hardin tried to get them done, and done with very strong NDAs. Watson/Hardin/Mulugheta had been saying for months, "No settlements, no NDAs of any kind." All BS. Caserio just tricked Watson into admitting he will settle the cases with NDAs, which increase his trade value.

2) Miami has been colluding with Watson & his people for many months, everybody knows it and that is tampering. But instead of reporting it to the league office, which is not his style, Nick let Grier and Flores and finally Ross tamper themselves into a PR nightmare. Chris Grier's post trade deadline presser was a disaster, he looked like a fool and he lied and lied and even lost his composure a little bit. Caserio got his pound of flesh without killing a future deal, and the next time Miami comes for Watson all the backchannel shenanigans trying to reduce the compensation will have no merit. Watson, by way of Ross, was ready to settle with NDAs. So pay up or another team will.
1. I would like to know how you know that Ross offered to pay for all of Derrick's settlements?

2. I'm sure Ross/Grier have been in contact with Mulagetta this happens before any trade is done. Example I'm fairly certain that the Rams/Snead got in touch with Miller's agent before he was trade from the Broncos to the Rams. So I dont see how this can be considered collusion.

As far as the part about Grier stumbling, it appears he's not very good at his job. Apparently the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

How does it feel to be on the losing end of the Derrick will be traded at the trade deadline debate?
 
Top