Attorney: Deshaun Watson lawsuits may have different result than criminal process, trade has ‘chilling effect’

Two grand juries in Texas declined to carry prison costs towards former Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson who was traded earlier this month to the Cleveland Browns – a deal that has since stirred questions in regards to the group’s choice to carry him in regardless of 22 ongoing civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault and harassment. 

However a distinguished Texas-based prison lawyer who makes a speciality of sexual abuse instances, believes these civil instances will make clear the victims’ claims. 

Michelle Simpson Tuegel, who has represented sexual abuse and assault survivors in high-profile instances such because the Larry Nassar litigation, advised Fox Information Digital in an interview Tuesday that she was not shocked by the Harris County and Brazoria County grand juries’ choices to not carry costs towards Watson and that the result of these instances won’t essentially be the identical within the civil proceedings. 

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“I feel the place individuals actually miss sure issues is that the prison course of generally fails grownup survivors and the burden of proof in a prison case is so much larger than in a civil case or in an administrative investigation – like what the NFL performed or what colleges conduct for sexual assault on campus – an analogous administrative sort of investigation of sexual misconduct,” Simpson Tuegel defined.

“Lots of people assume ‘effectively there’s no prosecution due to this fact these claims don’t maintain weight’ and I see in my apply on daily basis that that isn’t the case.” 

Simpson Tuegel stated that round 80% of the victims she represents in civil proceedings have seen no prison prosecution. She pointed to one among her current instances in Harris County the place the defendant was not charged by a grand jury regardless of “overwhelming proof” however the sufferer in her case was in the end awarded $44 million in a civil lawsuit.  

“The burden of and the proof that’s required for the civil declare is totally different.” 

Simpson Tuegel stated civil instances may take months and “typically it takes years” to play out which may occur in Watson’s scenario. 

Within the meantime, she expressed concern for the Browns’ and the NFL’s dealing with of the Watson commerce, arguing that it sends a “chilling” message to sexual assault victims.

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski speaks throughout a press convention introducing quarterback Deshaun Watson at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on March 25, 2022 in Berea, Ohio.
(Nick Cammett/Getty Photos)

“What we have now seen through the years is unfortunately a repeated sample of the NFL favoring athletes over and on the expense of victims and I feel particularly on this MeToo or post-MeToo period, the NFL to some extent is attempting to avoid wasting face by giving the impression that they’re conducting an investigation and so their choices and his $230 million contract are OK. However I feel what’s missed there’s this investigation and even of their admission, doesn’t embody talking in depth with the victims.” 

Simpson Tuegel was referring to feedback made by Browns’ normal supervisor Andrew Berry who didn’t say throughout Watson’s introductory press convention on Friday whether or not the group reached out on to any of the alleged victims throughout their unbiased investigation.

“We as a corporation know that this transaction has been very troublesome for many individuals, notably ladies in our neighborhood, and we notice that it has triggered a spread of feelings, that in addition to the character of the allegations, weighed closely on all of us,” Berry opened the convention by saying. 

“It was actually by means of this five-month odyssey and the data we have been in a position to amass, the reference work, and clearly working by means of due course of and the authorized course of, that bought us comfy pursuing a commerce for Deshaun.” 

However Simpson Tuegel disagrees. 

“I feel with out that aspect of this it is not a two-sided investigation … What they actually wish to do is preserve these proficient athletes of their group earning money for them quite than dig into and press pause at the least till they will unravel what 22 totally different ladies are saying.” 

She continued: “It has a chilling impact, not simply on these ladies, however different survivors who’re taking a look at this actually public case.” 

Cleveland Browns normal supervisor Andrew Berry, left, new quarterback Deshaun Watson, heart, and head coach Kevin Stefanski pose for a photograph throughout a information convention on the NFL soccer crew’s coaching facility, Friday, March 25, 2022, in Berea, Ohio. 
(AP Picture/Ron Schwane)

Browns followers have been divided over the Watson commerce however many have spoken out towards it, one thing Simpson Tuegel says is an indication that “instances are hopefully persevering with to alter.”

“I feel it speaks to it being a distinct time and that, particularly the variety of ladies which have bravely come ahead and have had to take action in a really public method with out being nameless – that carries weight for lots of people,” she stated. 

“This isn’t a nice course of for these ladies to undergo, particularly once they’re having to take action publicly and with such a public individual linked to it. So I feel persons are pushing again and Browns followers are standing up speaks to how instances are hopefully persevering with to alter in regard to how we reply to allegations of sexual misconduct, in that the individuals have the ability, the followers have the ability to say nothing is extra essential than the protection of a human benign. Not soccer video games, not cash, not successful and the Browns followers standing up and saying that’s actually admirable, particularly a few of the public figures who’ve accomplished so.”

Watson answered a number of questions in regards to the validity of these allegations in his first look with the Browns on Friday and repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.