Deshaun Watson is facing a new civil lawsuit alleging the suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback of sexual assault during the 2020 Massage

BEREA, Ohio– Another woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Deshaun Watson alleging the suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback pressured her into oral sex during a massage session in 2020.

It is the 26th known lawsuit against Watson alleging inappropriate sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage sessions.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Harris County, Texas, alleges that Watson sent the plaintiff a direct message via Instagram in December 2020 requesting a massage in a Houston, Texas hotel room while he was a member of the Texans. The lawsuit states that Watson “continuously applied pressure” throughout the session [the plaintiff] to massage his privates,” before “removing his towel” and “offering to let her ‘climb onto the blanket.'” Oral Sex” and “Watson Paid [the plaintiff] $300 for their services when their normal charge was $115 for an hour massage.”

According to the complaint, the plaintiff has suffered “severe depression and anxiety” since the alleged incident.

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“My client’s experience with Deshaun Watson follows a series of disturbingly similar encounters reported by more than 20 women who have filed lawsuits against the NFL superstar,” the woman’s attorney, Anissah Nguyen, told ESPN. “Like so many others, my client has spent almost two years dealing with the shame and trauma of all that he stole from her and the daily pain that has become a reality for her.

“Knowing that her story would lead to harsh conversations, criticism, and even blame, gave my client the courage and courage to stand up and speak out from these other women. She seeks justice not only for herself and her own healing, but for the more than 20 women who refused to be silenced and the victims who have yet to come forward.

Watson settled 23 of the lawsuits against him last summer, but one remains outstanding, according to Tony Buzbee, the plaintiff’s attorney, who also represented the other plaintiff women. A lawsuit was dropped after a judge ruled that the plaintiffs would have to amend their filings to disclose their names. Two other women filed criminal complaints against Watson but did not sue him.

In July, the Texans reached settlements with 30 women who were making or willing to make claims against the NFL organization for allegedly “enabling” what Buzbee called Watson’s behavior. The New York Times reported this summer that the Texans had arranged for Watson to visit massage therapists in a Houston hotel room.

Watson is serving an 11-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy by committing sexual assault on massage therapists, as defined by the NFL. On August 18, the NFL and the NFL Players Association reached an agreement on Watson’s suspension. He was also fined $5 million and had to undergo a mandatory treatment program.

Two grand juries in Texas declined to enter charges against Watson earlier this year. But Sue L. Robinson, an independent umpire appointed jointly by the league and players’ union, noted that “the NFL had its burden of proving, by preponderating the evidence, that Mr. Watson was involved in sexual assault.” . Robinson also concluded in her report that Watson’s behavior was both “outrageous” and “predatory”.

Watson has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and said people were not interested in hearing his side of the story.

“I will continue to stand by my innocence, just because settlements and things like that happen doesn’t mean a person is guilty of anything,” he said Aug. 18 after the settlement agreement. “I feel like there is an opportunity for a person to stand up and prove their innocence and we’ve proven that legally and we’re just going to keep moving forward as individuals and as a person.”

Watson was allowed back into the Browns training facility this week after being suspended as part of the settlement since August 30. He won’t be able to train with the team again until November 14 and won’t be eligible to play until Week 13, when the Browns travel to Houston on December 4 to face the Texans.