Houston lawyer Tony Buzbee said during a news conference Friday that he will be filing an additional five civil lawsuits against Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson "in due course" -- bringing the number of total cases to 12 alleging inappropriate conduct and sexual assault.
Buzbee also said he has spoken to "more than 10 additional women" who have come forward with reports about similar conduct from Watson after encounters.
Buzbee said alleged inappropriate conduct by Watson has happened as recently as this month, which was after the first time Buzbee said he spoken to Watson's lawyer, Scott Gaffied. Watson has since hired Houston attorney Rusty Hardin.
Buzbee said Friday that his office has been in contact with police and that he would provide information to the police about the women who intend to sue Watson. He also said he is not aware of any police reports filed prior to the civil suits.
"That's going to be our next step," Buzbee said.
Buzbee confirmed Watson's representatives have known about the allegations for more than a month.
"We actually had contact with Deshaun Watson's agent/lawyer from Los Angeles, who minimized these allegations, who did not take them seriously," Buzbee said. "We wanted to resolve this matter without a lawsuit, without any publicity. We knew that once we filed a lawsuit -- Texas, of course, has an open courts provision in the constitution so all lawsuits are public. We wanted to avoid that."
After Buzbee's announcement of the first lawsuit Tuesday, Watson responded on Twitter by saying that he rejected "a baseless six-figure settlement demand" and that this is "about clearing my name, and I look forward to doing that." At the time of his statement, Watson said he had not seen the first lawsuit.
"I have never treated any woman with anything other than the utmost respect," Watson said in his statement.
In Friday's news conference, Buzbee said "at least" one of the women alleging sexual assault was referred to him by the Texans. He said Quincy Avery, Watson's personal quarterback coach and trainer, had referred Watson to one of the women.
Buzbee said when he filed the first lawsuit on Tuesday night, he was only representing two women. Since then, the others women have come forward.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy on Thursday said "the matter is under review" of the league's personal conduct policy, and the Texans said they would stay in close contact with the NFL during the league's investigation. Buzbee said he has not had any contact with the Texans and the only contact with the NFL has been the letter he received from Lisa Friel, the league's special counsel for investigations.
Buzbee has yet to directly respond to the NFL's request to interview him and his clients, league sources told ESPN's Ed Werder, although he vowed cooperation in his news conference. The NFL protocol would also involve an eventual interview with Watson.
Under terms of the NFL personal conduct policy, Watson could be punished if the league determines the allegations are true, regardless of the outcome in court, but a source told Werder that it's premature to discuss what the allegations could mean for Watson's future.
While there has been speculation that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could place Watson on the exempt list, that is not believed to be a current option because the NFL offseason has begun and that was designed to remove players facing potential disciplinary action from practices and games.
The seven lawsuits filed so far depict a pattern of sexual assault against massage therapists in the Houston area. One woman alleges she was forced to perform oral sex during the course of the massage. While six of the lawsuits allege these were one-time encounters with Watson, one woman alleges she was sexually assaulted by Watson on multiple occasions. That lawsuit says the first massage was booked through the spa where the licensed aesthetician worked. The six other lawsuits allege Watson first inquired about the massage through Instagram direct messages.
Three of the four lawsuits filed Thursday night accuse him of inappropriate contact; the fourth said he forcibly tried to kiss a woman.
"Watson's behavior is part of a disturbing pattern of preying on vulnerable women," the fourth lawsuit reads.
All of the women who have filed lawsuits against Watson to this point have done so anonymously. Many of them allege they were intimidated by his physical stature and his status as an NFL quarterback.
Buzbee said Friday that three of the women his law firm represents "are undergoing intensive therapy as a result of the defendant's conduct."
Watson's agent, David Mulugheta, posted on Twitter on Friday.
"Sexual assault is real. Victims should be heard, offenders prosecuted," Mulugheta posted Friday. "Individuals fabricate stories in pursuit of financial gain often. Their victims should be heard, and those offenders also prosecuted. I simply hope we keep this same energy with the truth."
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