Latest news with #Buzbee
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Shannon Sharpe settles $50 million lawsuit with woman who accused him of rape
A $50-million lawsuit that accused Shannon Sharpe of rape has been settled. Attorney Tony Buzbee, whose firm represented a Jane Doe, who filed the civil lawsuit against the retired NFL star and sports media personality earlier this year, announced the settlement on Friday afternoon in a statement posted on Instagram. 'After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution,' Buzbee wrote. 'All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice.' Sharpe's legal team confirmed to The Times that a settlement had been reached and that Buzbee's statement should be considered the 'final word' on the matter. According to the lawsuit, filed on April 20 in Clark County, Nev., Sharpe and his accuser met at a Los Angeles gym in 2023, when he was 54 and she was 20. They ended up having 'a rocky consensual relationship that lasted nearly two years,' the lawsuit stated. Sharpe's accuser sought damages for claims of assault, sexual assault, battery, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress after multiple alleged non-consensual sexual encounters in her Las Vegas apartment between October and January. Sharpe has denied the allegations. One of his attorneys, Lanny J. Davis, told reporters in April that Sharpe had offered his accuser 'at least $10 million' to settle the case in mediation, but the offer was declined. Days after the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe announced that he was temporarily stepping away from his duties as a commentator on ESPN's 'First Take' but would return in time for the 2025 NFL season. Sharpe has remained on his popular podcasts 'Club Shay Shay' and 'Nightcap.'
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Shannon Sharpe settles sexual assault and battery lawsuit, accuser's attorney says
Pro Football Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe settled a lawsuit on July 18, ending a $50 million civil lawsuit that accused him of sexual assault and battery, his attorney said. Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the woman identified as "Jane Doe" in the lawsuit, announced that the sides reached a resolution and the case would be dismissed. "On April 20, 2025, The Buzbee Law Firm filed a complaint in Nevada making several allegations against Shannon Sharpe on behalf of our client," Buzbee said in a statement on X. "Both sides acknowledge a long-term consensual and tumultuous relationship. After protracted and respectful negotiations, I'm pleased to announce that we have reached a mutually agreed upon resolution. All matters have now been addressed satisfactorily, and the matter is closed. The lawsuit will thus be dismissed with prejudice." Buzbee did not release any details of the arrangement. The case was initially filed in April after the woman alleged that Sharpe engaged in the intentional infliction of emotional distress and later assaulted her twice, once in October 2024 and in January 2025. She said that Sharpe became violent over the course of their relationship and recorded their sexual encounters without her consent. The Hall of Fame tight end stepped away from making appearances on ESPN in April, but pledged to return to the network for start of the NFL preseason. He has maintained his innocence throughout the process, saying the relationship was 100% consensual. The 57-year-old called the lawsuit a "shakedown" and a "blatant set-up" by Buzbee and the accuser. Buzbee was famously part of the legal team that won settlements against Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson following sexual misconduct accusations from more than two dozen massage therapists. While Sharpe has continued with his podcast, "Club Shay Shay," during the case, it's unclear at this time if he will return to ESPN. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shannon Sharpe's sexual assault lawsuit spirals into courtroom chaos after accuser appears without lawyer
Shannon Sharpe's $50 million sexual assault case took an unexpected turn (Getty Images) Shannon Sharpe's first court appearance in a $50 million civil sexual assault lawsuit took a dramatic turn this week, as confusion engulfed a Clark County courtroom when the accuser, Gabriella Zuniga, arrived without her attorney. The highly publicized case, already fueled by media scrutiny and social media speculation, veered off course as celebrity lawyer Tony Buzbee—best known for high-stakes battles involving Deshaun Watson and Jay-Z—failed to appear, leaving the courtroom stunned. A courtroom twist: plaintiff shows up alone, judge 'disappointed' Judge Anna Albertson didn't mince words, expressing 'disappointment' over Buzbee's absence. Zuniga's lack of legal representation, despite Buzbee being formally attached to the case, raised questions about the plaintiff's preparedness and her legal team's commitment. Buzbee, meanwhile, was reportedly active on social media that week, making the situation even more puzzling. Sharpe, flanked by attorney Robert DeMarco, seized the moment. His team requested and was granted a 45-day extension to assess the unexpected development, marking what some are calling an early procedural win for the former NFL star. Shannon Sharpe hits back: denies allegations, calls it a "money grab" While Sharpe has yet to formally respond in court, he has been aggressive in the court of public opinion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like [화제] 150cm엄마,170아빠 이거먹고 우리아이는 180cm됐습니다! 3개월만에8cm성장 더 알아보기 Undo Denying the allegations outright, Sharpe called the case a calculated 'money grab,' allegedly engineered by Buzbee's legal tactics. Adding to the controversy, Sharpe's legal team claims a $10 million settlement offer was extended before the lawsuit was filed—framing it as an effort to avoid long-drawn litigation rather than any admission of guilt. Sharpe's camp also released private messages and audio recordings to support his claim that the relationship with Zuniga was consensual. One controversial recording in which he appears to threaten Zuniga was downplayed as 'part of a role-playing dynamic,' not a sign of abuse. Buzbee, for his part, has criticized Sharpe's strategy, particularly the public disclosure of Zuniga's identity and private exchanges. He argues that turning down a settlement offer does not weaken the strength of Zuniga's claims. Also Read: Tom Brady accused of using Sofia Vergara for clout as insiders label romance a shallow summer stunt As legal tensions rise, Sharpe has stepped back from ESPN but remains active on his Club Shay Shay and Nightcap podcasts. With another court date looming, the chaos surrounding this case is just getting started—and both sides appear ready for a long legal battle. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Manika Batra's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 3. Watch Here!
News18
10-07-2025
- News18
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs ‘Victims' Hotline Getting Calls Even After Rapper Found Guilty
Last Updated: Combs, who was found not guilty on three out of five criminal charges, was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The Sean 'Diddy' Combs 'victims' hotline is still taking calls. Lawyer Tony Buzbee, 56, set up a call center as he launched a series of civil lawsuits against the rapper, who is in jail awaiting sentencing on two of the five federal charges on which he stood trial in New York over the last two months. He told about how the call centre was set up to log the accounts from alleged abuse victims of the Bad Boy Records founder: 'There may be real victims who are hesitant to come forward. 'I'm always willing to hear from people, and talk to people, and hear their story. Maybe I can help them and maybe I cannot." The hotline went live shortly after Buzbee filed one of the first sexual abuse lawsuits against Combs, 55. Within 24 hours of its creation, the 1-800-200-7474 number reportedly received more than 12,000 calls from alleged victims, witnesses, and those with knowledge of events related to the case, according to Mr Buzbee. Despite Combs' recent acquittal on sex trafficking charges, Mr Buzbee said operators are still 'standing by" and he continues to field calls from those who 'saw something" or claim to be witnesses. The veteran Texas attorney stated the volume of information gathered has been significant, saying his team has received testimony and evidence in the form of videos, photos, text messages, police reports, and hospital records. He also vowed in a chat with Radar: 'We will still march on because the burden of proof in a civil case is much lower than the burden of proof in a criminal case." Mr Buzbee has continued to pursue legal action against Combs, filing three new civil lawsuits in jurisdictions including Nevada and California. At a press conference when the hotline was first announced, he claimed several reports involved underage individuals at the time of the alleged incidents. He added: 'Most of these events and incidents occurred at parties and afterparties, or album release parties, New Year's Eve parties, Fourth of July parties, something they called a 'puppy party' and all-white parties." Combs, who was found not guilty on three out of five criminal charges, was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. While he faces prison time, it is believed he will not be jailed for long if at all, and he avoided the life sentence he was originally facing. Mr Buzbee said the outcome of the criminal trial has not affected his determination to pursue justice through the civil courts. He said: 'What we have learned throughout this criminal trial is that this conduct that many of the people that I represent have talked about was in fact occurring, and it was occurring on a frequent basis. And there was a constant theme throughout this criminal trial that P. Diddy, as the head of this alleged RICO organisation, would not take no for an answer." Combs has denied all charges against him and his sentencing is due in October. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
JAY-Z's Defamation And Extortion Lawsuit Against Tony Buzbee Gets Dismissed
JAY-Z's campaign against Tony Buzbee has run into a snag. A California judge dismissed his extortion and defamation lawsuit against the controversial attorney. Mark Epstein, a Los Angeles County judge, admitted he was not 'wholly satisfied' with his decision in a new 65-page ruling, per Rolling Stone. Epstein said he had to weigh the 'competing interests at play,' but would ultimately leave the final decision in the hands of the Court Of Appeal. So, despite making this decision, he ended his ruling saying to 'stay tuned.' Hov sued Buzbee last year after the rape accusations against him were dropped, which the Texas lawyer was a driving force behind. The Brooklyn rapper claimed that Buzbee knew he was operating on false information, yet still proceeded with the suit. He also accused the 56-year-old attorney of contacting him on two separate occasions to demand money before adding him to Diddy's rape lawsuit, which Hov believes was due to him not handing over the requested money. The '99 Problems' rapper's legal team was not pleased with Judge Epstein's decision. 'We are surprised and disappointed by this ruling which turns on the misapplication of California law on the admissibility of the investigators' statements,' his lawyer, Alex Spiro, told Rolling Stone. 'Notably, the Judge expressly states that his decision would have 'change[d] dramatically' if he had admitted the statements into evidence as they would have shown 'not only that Carter had nothing to do with any sexual assault on Doe, but that Buzbee knew it…' and thus 'the court would come out the other way on this motion.' What does it say about our justice system if someone can knowingly bring about completely false claims of the most heinous nature imaginable against an innocent individual and get away with it on a technicality?' Buzbee, on the other hand, was thrilled to be on the right side of a dropped lawsuit this time around. 'Yet another huge win!!' he wrote on X. 'John Doe's case against me and The Buzbee Law Firm alleging extortion and defamation was thrown out by the court. As I said when it was filed, the case was completely meritless. We will now seek attorneys' fees against John Doe for bringing the legally flawed case.' More from Jeezy Claims JAY-Z Axed His Verse On Beyoncé's "Drunk In Love" Mario Admits Shocking Choice Between A Date And Performing With JAY-Z JAY-Z Joins Beyoncé On Stage For "Crazy In Love" Performance At Cowboy Carter Tour
