Attorney: Women Suing Deshaun Watson Not ‘Respected’ In Meetings With NFL Investigators

Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the 22 women suing Deshaun Watson, says that the NFL is not respecting the women.

Buzbee spoke to Fox 26 in Houston about the situation. “Some of the women did not feel like they were being respected,” Buzbee said about the first three meetings with NFL investigators. Buzbee told Fox that this led to him attending a fourth meeting between the league’s investigative group and his clients. Buzzbee said that four of his clients met with the league’s lead investigator, Lisa Friel, and that he has “probably four more women who want to meet with the NFL” but is not sure whether he’s going to let them speak with the league’s investigators.

“The allegations are very concerning, and the league immediately began investigating the matter under the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said on Thursday. “The investigation includes gathering information, monitoring law enforcement developments, and conducting interviews with relevant people willing to participate with counsel present.”

“Throughout her decades-long career as the chief of the sex crimes unit in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and most recently as the NFL’s special counsel for investigations for the last six years, Lisa has earned a stellar reputation as a consummate professional who conducts investigations and interviews with compassion and fairness in an effort to determine the truth.” 

The attorney said that there will be no plans to settle the case with the Houston Texans star.
Rusty Hardin, Watson’s attorney shared the same sentiment as Buzzbee. Hardin said that there will be no settlement between the two sides. He alleges that Buzzbee has approached him about settling the case.

“While we have never approached Mr. Buzbee about a settlement, he has approached us on numerous occasions in the past about the possibility of a settlement,” the statement read. “We have made clear all along that there would be no settlement unless the terms are made public and all participants are allowed to speak in their own defense at all times. We want none of the participants, the plaintiffs, or Mr. Watson muzzled by a settlement agreement. Mr. Buzbee does not feel the same.”

“I am a little bemused by Mr. Buzbee pronouncing piously that his clients are not going to settle and that they want their cases to play out in court. The fact that this whole thing started with his attempt to extort money and avoid court shows that irony is not dead. I guess it has just been raised to a new level.”