Prescott Cleared of Civil Claims in Long-Running Legal Battle
In a recent development, a Collin County judge has cleared Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott of all civil claims related to sexual assault allegations made against him. This decision comes months after Dallas police had already decided not to move forward with any charges in the case.
The allegations stem from an incident in 2017 when Prescott was accused of sexual assault. The accuser initially demanded a staggering $100 million in exchange for not taking the matter to law enforcement. Despite this, the accuser later filed a report with the Dallas Police Department in March, prompting a series of legal maneuvers from both sides.
Prescott responded by filing both a civil lawsuit and a criminal report against his accuser. The legal skirmish advanced as the accuser’s attorney dropped a similar lawsuit in Dallas County and subsequently filed it in Collin County instead. By June, Judge Angela Tucker had dismissed the accuser’s claims.
The Dallas Police Department's investigation had concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations against Prescott. Speaking on this, Prescott's attorney Levi G. McCathern remarked, "As we knew they would, they found nothing in their extensive exploration of the facts that would support a criminal prosecution."
In a bid to counteract what Prescott perceived as attempts to defame and extort him, he filed a civil lawsuit seeking over $1 million. In this lawsuit, Prescott cited the accuser's earlier demand for $100 million as an extortion attempt. Evidence came to light that the accuser’s attorney had sent a letter in January suggesting she would drop pursuit of criminal charges in return for the massive sum.
McCathern did not mince words in addressing the situation: "The original lies by [the accuser], her team, and their recent failed attempt to sue him civilly are all just a continuation of their extortion plot against Dak."
The legal battle is far from over. A hearing is scheduled for September to determine if further legal action against the accuser is necessary. The intertwining lawsuits—Prescott’s for extortion and the accuser's yet again for sexual assault, each happening in civil court in Collin County—highlight the prolonged and contentious nature of the dispute.
"These ploys distract from the trauma of legitimate sexual assault survivors and undermine the progress that our society has made in supporting them," McCathern added, emphasizing how the case reverberates beyond the courtroom.
Prescott, who is set to enter the final season of a four-year, $160 million contract in 2024, has maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal. "I know the truth, I'm confident in what we filed, very confident in what we filed," he said, expressing his unyielding stance on the matter.
McCathern further elucidated Prescott's position, stating, "To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially, malicious lies. We will not allow the Defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott."
As a new father to a baby girl, Prescott's perspectives extend empathetically toward actual survivors of sexual assault. McCathern noted, "Mr. Prescott -- a new father to a baby girl -- has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault."
While the accuser’s motion for a "non-suit without prejudice" leaves the potential for her to refile the case in Dallas County, Prescott and his legal team are preparing for the prospects ahead. "We are confident that at the end of law enforcement's investigation into the extortion case that they will find the accuser and her attorneys just as guilty as Dak is innocent," McCathern expressed, signaling their readiness for the subsequent rounds in this legal saga.
As the upcoming hearing approaches, the sports world will be watching closely to see how these legal battles unfold, impacting one of the NFL's most high-profile players both on and off the field.