A judge ruled that the Houston Texans starting quarterback, Deshaun Watson, can be questioned under oath in nine civil cases. The decision comes after a lawsuit was filed against the NFL and its teams for allegedly conspiring to fix games during last season’s playoffs.
In a recent decision, the “deshaun watson trade” ruled that Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson can be questioned under oath in nine civil cases.
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Deshaun Watson will be able to testify under oath in at least part of the 22 civil claims brought against him by women accusing him of anything from harassment to sexual assault during massage sessions, according to a court in Houston.
Watson’s lawyer, Rusty Hardin, filed a motion last week to postpone Watson’s deposition until after April 1, arguing that doing so would allow Watson’s legal team to secure depositions from all 22 of the women who are suing him, as well as provide Watson with the security of knowing whether he will face criminal charges. Watson’s deposition was supposed to start this week, but it was pushed out.
On Monday, Hardin said in court that the Harris County District Attorney would most likely determine whether Watson will face criminal charges by April 1. The district attorney’s office and Houston Police Department have both refused to comment on Watson’s criminal case.
On Monday, Hardin’s petition to postpone Watson’s deposition was refused, at least in part.
In a prepared statement released Monday, Tony Buzbee, the Houston attorney for the 22 women suing Watson, said, “Deshaun Watson’s team loudly and publicly claims he is innocent and wants nothing more than to clear his name, yet he refuses to sit in a room and face his accusers and answer questions under oath.”
“Today, [Watson] requested additional time; nevertheless, despite his efforts, the Court ordered that, at least for the first nine plaintiffs, there would be no more delay,” Buzbee noted.
Watson may be questioned under oath about claims in nine outstanding civil lawsuits, the court decided Monday. None of the women involved in those nine incidents have filed a criminal complaint against Watson, and they have all previously given depositions in their civil suits.
Hardin argued in court on Monday that no attorney would allow a client to give sworn testimony in a civil case when a potential criminal case is looming, raising the possibility that Watson will use his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent if he is called to testify in the nine cases identified by the court on Monday.
“The lawyer’s job is to defend the client, and while there is a criminal investigation underway, it is only reasonable to wait and see if charges are filed or not before choosing whether or not to submit someone for depositions,” Hardin told reporters following the hearing on Monday.
Watson is accused of a variety of activities during massage sessions, ranging from refusing to cover his genitals to forcing oral sex, in the 22 legal complaints brought against him. “I’m hoping and believe that will be a conclusion of a grand jury,” Hardin said Monday, adding that Watson “didn’t do what he is accused of doing.”
Buzbee added some information on Watson’s marketing manager, Brian Burney, who testified that the Texans organization “supplied Watson the nondisclosure agreement that he insisted on numerous ladies signing after a massage session,” according to Buzbee.
Watson’s situation is also being investigated by the NFL.
Despite staying on the active roster, Watson, who has been the subject of NFL trade speculations for months, did not play for the Texans for the whole season.
The “deshaun watson evidence reddit” is a news story about the judge ruling that Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson can be questioned under oath in nine civil cases.
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