New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was accused of rape in a lawsuit filed this week in Los Angeles, the New York Publish reported on Friday.
Within the go well with filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Courtroom, the girl — recognized as Jane Doe from Seattle — alleges Williamson sexually assaulted her twice in 2020.
The plaintiff, who claims to be the NBA ahead’s ex-girlfriend, alleges in a 12-page submitting that there was a sample of “abusive, controlling and threatening conduct” towards her that occurred in California, Louisiana and different states.
Williamson, 24, is also accused of threatening to have his safety personnel shoot Doe within the head and have her dad and mom killed, in accordance with the report. The submitting alleges Williamson was drunk or had taken cocaine throughout lots of the alleged incidents.
“Our consumer may be very adamant about this — it isn’t her need or our need to litigate this case within the press,” Doe’s legal professional, Sam Taylor with the Lanier Legislation Agency, instructed the Publish on Friday. “It is a very critical case, as mirrored within the allegations. Our consumer appears ahead to her day in courtroom the place she will be able to go and clarify to a jury what occurred to her, the issues she endured for this defendant and getting justice.”
Williamson’s legal professional, Michael Balascio, offered the next assertion:
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we unequivocally deny them. The allegations contained within the grievance are categorically false and reckless,” Balascio wrote, per Entrance Workplace Sports activities. “That is the plaintiff’s third set of attorneys. This seems to be an try to take advantage of an expert athlete pushed by a monetary motive slightly than any professional grievance.
“Mr. Williamson and the plaintiff by no means dated, however did keep a consensual, informal relationship that started greater than six years in the past, when he was 18 years previous. That relationship ended years in the past. At no level throughout or instantly after that relationship did the plaintiff elevate any considerations. Solely after the friendship ended did she start demanding thousands and thousands of {dollars}.”
Williamson’s legal professional claimed that his consumer filed a police report in opposition to Doe for extortion with an arrest warrant issued. Williamson will file a counterclaim and search “important damages” for Doe’s lawsuit, his legal professional mentioned.
As of Friday afternoon, the Pelicans had not commented publicly on the allegations.
Williamson, the No. 1 total choose within the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke, is a two-time All-Star with profession averages of 24.7 factors, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 214 video games (all begins) with the Pelicans.
–Discipline Stage Media/Reuters