Latest news with #RobertDeMarco
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
First Hearing For Shannon Sharpe Case Takes Bizarre Turn
First Hearing For Shannon Sharpe Case Takes Bizarre Turn originally appeared on The Spun. Wednesday marked the first hearing in the lawsuit against Hall of Fame tight end and sports media personality Shannon Sharpe. But things immediately took a bizarre turn in court. Advertisement According to KLAS in Las Vegas, Nevada, no attorney showed up on behalf of the plaintiff during the hearing. Clark County District Court Judge Anna Albertson reported expressed "disappointment" that the plaintiff had no legal representation at the start of the hearing. Sharpe, on the other hand, was represented by attorney Robert DeMarco. Sharpe's attorney asked the judge to review the progress of the case and extended it by 45 days. The request was granted. Their next hearing in district court is set for September 3. The plaintiff in the case is suing Sharpe for $50 million on charges of sexual assault and battery. She has previously been represented by Tony Buzbee, a celebrity attorney best known in NFL circles for representing some of the women who accused quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct during his time with the Houston Texans. Advertisement It's not clear what's going on and why Buzbee or his associates couldn't show up to the hearing on the plaintiff's behalf. Buzbee was recently in the news for having a lawsuit against him by Jay-Z thrown out and was on social media as recently as two days ago. Attorney Tony Buzbee, who will defend Attorney General Ken Paxton in his impeachment trial, speaks at a news conference at the Travis County Republican Party Headquarters on Wednesday June 7, 2023. (Via OlyDrop)© Jay Janner / American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Sharpe has vehemently denied the allegations that Buzbee's client has levied against him. In a statement he previously released, Sharpe's team called the lawsuit "a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars" and has pledged to fight it. 'This lawsuit, filed by Gabriella Zuniga and orchestrated by her attorney Tony Buzbee, is a blatant and cynical attempt to shake down Mr. Sharpe for millions of dollars,' the statement reads. 'It is filled with lies, distortions, and misrepresentations — and it will not succeed.' Advertisement In a legal statement shared by the team of attorney Lanny J. Davis, Sharpe denied "all allegations of coercion or misconduct." 'Mr. Sharpe categorically denies all allegations of coercion or misconduct — especially the gross lie of 'rape' — and will not submit to what he sees as an egregious attempt at blackmail,' the statement reads. 'He stands firmly by the truth and is prepared to fight these false claims vigorously in court. He looks forward to vindication through due process and a judgment based on the facts and the law.' It's hard to exactly call this first hearing a "win" for Sharpe, though any issues that the presiding judge may have with the plaintiff could be to his benefit in the long run. Related: ESPN Makes Decision On Shannon Sharpe Amid Lawsuit First Hearing For Shannon Sharpe Case Takes Bizarre Turn first appeared on The Spun on Jul 11, 2025 Advertisement This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault accuser is stood up by her attorney at first hearing in $50m lawsuit
The first hearing of Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault lawsuit in Nevada was derailed Wednesday when his accuser's attorney was mysteriously absent from court, leading to questions about the future of her case against the NFL great. Tony Buzbee, the Texas attorney representing the Jane Doe suing her ex-boyfriend in Sharpe, was not present this week, but did offer an explanation when contacted Friday by Daily Mail. 'There was an agreement to reset that hearing with Mr. Sharpe's lead counsel,' Buzbee told Daily Mail in an email. 'A miscommunication on Sharpe's legal team obviously occurred. Mr. Sharpe's counsel intends to write an apology letter to the court for wasting the court's time.' Daily Mail has reached out to Sharpe's legal counsel for confirmation. One of Sharpe's attorneys, Robert DeMarco, was on hand for the hearing, but Sharpe's other lawyers were out of state and unable to attend, DeMarco told That Las Vegas news outlet also reported that Judge Anna Albertson expressed her disappointment in Buzbee's absence on Wednesday. Sharpe's legal team has yet to file an official response to the lawsuit. On Wednesday, they asked Albertson to review the case and extend 45 days. Albertson was surprised Sharpe's team wasn't eager to settle, but nonetheless granted the request, according to The next hearing will be September 3. The $50 million lawsuit accuses Sharpe of repeatedly raping his now-ex girlfriend, identified as Jane Doe, in 2024 and 2025. The accuser claims she was abused by Sharpe over their year-long relationship. She also claims that it was another woman, and not her, who was caught having sex with Sharpe when the Pro Football Hall of Famer accidentally streamed live audio of the encounter on social media in September. Sharpe is first accused of raping Doe the following month, allegedly forcing himself on her as she 'was crying and sobbing.' He allegedly raped her again in January after arriving at her home with promises of Christmas and birthday gifts. 'The lawsuit lays out a pattern of intimidation, manipulation, and abuse, including allegations that Sharpe repeatedly threatened to choke and slap Jane Doe,' read an April statement from Buzbee. Sharpe has denied the accusations in a statement through his attorneys in which he identified his accuser by name. Buzbee is best known for representing 20 women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment. He also represented a woman who accused rapper Jay-Z of rape only to drop her allegations. Jay-Z ultimately sued Buzbee for allegedly making false claims, but that lawsuit was also dismissed. Doe and Sharpe met in 2023 when she was 20 and he was in his mid-50s, according to the filing obtained by Daily Mail. The woman claims Sharpe told her he would 'buy her fake t**s' if she won a weight-loss competition with him. From there, she claims, Sharpe pursued her vigorously, calling, texting and 'demanding she come to his Beverly Glen mansion.' Curiously, Sharpe demanded she sign a non-disclosure agreement when their relationship began, only to drop that request when she repeatedly refused. '... Sharpe made another demand—she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement, an ''NDA,''' reads the filing obtained by Daily Mail. 'He refused to explain why and would not let her see a copy of the proposed agreement. He simply insisted she sign one. Plaintiff refused. After multiple attempts, when he realized she would not cooperate, he finally dropped the issue.' Jane Doe describes their relationship as consensual but claims he 'demanded complete control over her time and body.' Often he was 'expecting her to be at his house on his schedule, at his command, whenever he called,' according to the filing. She became particularly fearful of Sharpe during an argument during which there was a handgun visible in the room. 'Plaintiff tried sharing her location with friends from her iPhone -- just in case,' the filings state. 'But Sharpe saw her doing this. The moment he realized what she was doing, he grabbed her by the neck and told her, ''If you ever do that again, I will f***ing kill you.''' A popular podcast host and ESPN personality, Sharpe is rumored to be in line for a massive new deal. Front Office Sports has reported that Sharpe has received multiple offers as his current media deal with Colin Cowherd's platform, The Volume, is set to expire. Furthermore, sources told FSO Sharpe's next deal is expected to exceed $100 million, which happens to be the reported amount Smith got in his recent contract negotiations with ESPN . That might come as a surprise, but Sharpe does have a massive audience. A recent interview with comedian Katt Williamson hit nearly 90 million views and Club Shay Shay currently boasts around 4 million subscribers, making it among the most popular podcasts in sports and entertainment. Regardless of whether Sharpe's next deal surpasses $100 million in total value, it will assuredly exceed the $22 million he made over 14 NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. The brother of former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe, Shannon played at little-known Savannah State before being taken by the Denver Broncos as an afterthought in the seventh round of the 1990 NFL Draft. But instead of being a backup or role player, Sharpe soon established himself as one of the most productive tight ends in football despite not possessing elite size at just 6-foot-2, 228-pounds. He would go on to win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and another with the Baltimore Ravens before turning to Denver to finish his career in 2003.
