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On Tuesday, lawyer Rusty Hardin issued a statement on behalf of Texan quarterback Deshaun Watson about the various allegations of aggression made against him. On Tuesday night, lawyer Tony Buzbee, who opened 16 cases and counting Watson, responded in a Facebook post.
“The alleged sexual misconduct is serious,” said Buzbee. “Trying to criminalize or minimize those who speak or step forward is wrong. I was asked to respond to a statement released by Mr. Watson’s lawyer.
“My first reaction is that there have been so many massage sessions on Instagram that Mr. Watson is unable to track them – remember that he on Twitter initially criticized me and denied everything. I cannot say how many people came forward to report similar conduct or provide information. This information will be released, again in public archives – not in the media.
“My second reaction is a question: why would your marketing agent admit that Watson had sex for money with a massage therapist, consensual or not? We will also provide a copy of the non-disclosure agreement that Deshaun Watson and her marketing manager repeatedly insisted that Jane Doe (and others) sign after (and sometimes before) the ‘massage session’, which she refused to sign. I appreciate Mr. Hardin’s professionalism and his words of support for the victims, but I would respectfully suggest that there are many facts here, which we will place in public archives, of which Mr. Hardin may not be aware. We will provide additional details in a statement, consistent with our ethical obligations in due course. I hope we can do that by Friday. “
Buzbee and Hardin are now fully engaged in an effort to influence public opinion for (in the case of Hardin) or against (in the case of Buzbee) Watson’s position. Although irrelevant to the way these cases will be heard in court, public statements necessarily shed light on the broader strategies that lawyers will employ.