CNN
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Less than two months after the settlement of 23 lawsuits charging him with sexual misconduct, a new civil lawsuit was filed Thursday in Houston against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
The plaintiff, who filed the lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” alleged that Watson urged her into sexual activity during a professional massage session at a Houston hotel in late 2020. Watson was a player for the Houston Texans at the time.
“During the massage, Watson continually pressured the plaintiff to massage his private parts,” the lawsuit states. The plaintiff said Watson “was able to pressure her into oral sex” and paid her more than double her normal fee as a masseuse.
Doe accuses Watson of civil assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
CNN reached out to Browns and Watson defense attorney Rusty Hardin for comment Thursday night.
On Friday, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement, “Watson’s status remains unchanged. We will monitor developments in the newly filed lawsuits; and any conduct warranting further investigation or possible additional sanctions will be addressed in the Personal Conduct Policy.”
Although Watson has previously settled all but one civil sexual misconduct lawsuit against him, he has denied wrongdoing in those cases, and two grand juries have separately declined to indict him on criminal charges.
Watson was fined $5 million by the NFL and is currently suspended for 11 games, but may be reinstated on November 28.