Zion Williamson Accused of Sexual Assault in Civil Lawsuit
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is accused in a lawsuit of engaging in sexual abuse and other misconduct by a woman with whom he allegedly had a sexual relationship from 2018 to 2023.
Attorneys for Williamson called the woman's claims an 'extortion attempt.'
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The civil complaint, according to ESPN, was filed by a plaintiff using the pseudonym Jane Doe in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday. The complaint asserts Williamson, a former No. 1 overall NBA Draft choice, engaged in 'physical, emotional, and financial' abuse in addition to sexual misconduct. The alleged acts occurred in Louisiana and California.
The allegations include claims that Williamson threatened to 'have his paid security guard shoot Plaintiff while the security guard was present and carrying a loaded firearm,' and made threats to kill the plaintiff's parents as well. Allegations of Williamson monitoring the woman's whereabouts are also included in the suit.
Accusations raised in a civil complaint are not necessarily true, and whether a plaintiff can support the accusations with evidence and testimony are key factors that will take time to play out.
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Attorneys for Williamson at Barrasso Usdin Kupperman Freeman & Sarver issued a statement Friday denying the allegations. They claim that Williamson 'reported the plaintiff's extortion attempt to law enforcement.' The statement does not indicate the jurisdiction of the law enforcement entity.
The extortion accusation, Williamson's attorneys state, led to the issuance of an arrest warrant, though details of that alleged issuance are not clarified.
Williamson's attorneys also state their client and the plaintiff 'never dated' but did 'maintain a consensual, casual relationship' that began when Williamson was a freshman at Duke in 2019. Williamson will countersue the plaintiff, his attorneys said.
It's worth noting that the filing of a complaint in court is ordinarily preceded by a would-be plaintiffs' demand letter sent to the would-be defendant. The letter requests a settlement, which typically contemplates financial payment to the plaintiff in exchange for dropping potential claims and agreeing to a nondisclosure provision—a provision that would be of great value to a high-profile figure like Williamson.
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In other words, Williamson likely knew he was going to be sued in a public court filing that would attract media attention unless he agreed to Doe's demands. His attorneys said 'only after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of dollars.'
Williamson's answer to the complaint and motion to dismiss will be important steps going forward to assessing the truthfulness of the woman's and Williamson's conflicting accounts. The legal process would also impact how the NBA and Pelicans address the matter. The league and the NBPA have bargained a domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy that contemplates the league's ability to investigate related claims.
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