Months after the Dallas police opted not to press any charges, a Collin County judge has dismissed all civil claims against NFL star Dak Prescott regarding the sexual assault allegations made against him.
The accusations, which date back to 2017, surfaced when a woman claimed that Prescott sexually assaulted her. Notably, the accuser initially demanded $100 million to refrain from reporting the matter to law enforcement. This escalated in March when she officially filed a report with the Dallas Police Department.
Prescott, determined to defend his reputation, responded by filing both a civil lawsuit and a criminal complaint against the accuser. Despite numerous legal maneuvers, including the accuser’s attorney dropping a lawsuit in Dallas County in April only to refile a similar claim in Collin County, Judge Angela Tucker dismissed the allegations against Prescott in June.
A Lengthy Legal Battle
The Dallas Police Department ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims against Prescott. In a proactive move, Prescott filed a civil lawsuit seeking over $1 million in damages, accusing the woman of extortion. Levi G. McCathern, Prescott's lawyer, stated, "As we knew they would, they found nothing in their extensive exploration of the facts that would support a criminal prosecution."
The legal tug-of-war has been fraught with accusations and counterclaims. The accuser’s attorney had previously indicated in a January letter that the accuser would not pursue criminal charges if Prescott paid $100 million, furthering the narrative that Prescott was being targeted unjustly. "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," McCathern said.
Resonating Impacts
Prescott, who is set to enter the final year of a four-year, $160 million contract in 2024, remains steadfast in his defense. "I know the truth, I'm confident in what we filed, very confident in what we filed," he reiterated. The high-profile nature of the case has had broader implications, with McCathern noting that such unfounded claims undermine genuine survivors of sexual assault. "These ploys distract from the trauma of legitimate sexual assault survivors and undermine the progress that our society has made in supporting them," he commented.
The stakes are high as Prescott's lawsuit and the accuser's counterclaims of extortion continue to clash in Collin County civil court. A hearing scheduled for September will determine the future course of legal action against the accuser. "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 stated emphatically.
While Prescott's legal team prepares for the next phase, the NFL star maintains that the allegations are completely baseless. "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," said McCathern.
As Prescott continues to navigate these tumultuous waters, his focus remains on both his professional career and personal life. Recently becoming a father to a baby girl, Prescott's lawyer emphasized his client's empathy for real victims of sexual assault. "Mr. Prescott -- a new father to a baby girl -- has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault," McCathern noted, aiming to distinguish his client's character amidst the legal maelstrom.
With the eyes of the sports world watching closely, Prescott's case stands as a significant example of the complexities and challenges faced by public figures accused of serious crimes. The outcomes of the upcoming hearings will undoubtedly have lasting repercussions, not just for Prescott, but potentially for how similar cases are approached in the future.