Deshaun Watson Lawsuit: Every Civil Case Is Now Closed
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Watson is back as the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback in 2026, which is why the old cases are back in searches. The legal picture is settled: 27 women sued him in Texas starting in March 2021, and the last two suits were dismissed with prejudice in early 2026 (reported February 9, 2026). This was never a class action. There is no fund, no claim form and nothing for anyone to file.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Lawsuits Alleged
The suits were filed in Texas state court in Harris County by women who had booked massage sessions with Watson while he played for the Houston Texans. According to the filings, he exposed himself, touched them with his genitals or kissed them against their will, mostly during massage appointments. Some plaintiffs alleged he forced them to perform oral sex; one later suit alleged sexual assault. The conduct alleged dates from 2017 to 2020.
These remained allegations. Watson has long denied any wrongdoing, and his attorney Rusty Hardin called the claims “meritless.” No court or jury ever ruled on them: every case ended in a confidential settlement or a dismissal.
Case Details
Every civil case was a Texas state-court case in Harris County, not a federal case, so there is no MDL and no federal docket. This page does not list cause numbers because we could not verify them against the Harris County District Clerk’s records.
Criminal side: on March 11, 2022 a Harris County grand jury declined to indict Watson. Later that month a Brazoria County grand jury declined to charge him as well, and the district attorney there called the matter “closed.”
League discipline is a separate private process, not a court case. On August 1, 2022 disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson ordered a six-game suspension. The NFL appealed, and on August 18, 2022 the league and the players’ union settled on an 11-game unpaid suspension, a $5 million fine and a mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts.
Status: All Cases Resolved, Nothing Pending
The original massage-therapist suits (from March 2021): Watson settled 20 of 24 on June 21, 2022, on confidential terms. Most of the rest settled later.
The claims against the Houston Texans: in July 2022 the team settled with 30 women who had made or planned to make claims, on confidential terms and with no admission of wrongdoing.
The September 2024 suit: filed Sept. 9, 2024 in Harris County by an unnamed woman alleging a sexual assault in 2020. It sought more than $1 million and was settled confidentially in October 2024.
The last two suits: dismissed with prejudice in early 2026 (reported February 9, 2026), before trials set for February and March 2026. The plaintiff’s attorney confirmed that one had settled. Whether the other settled was not publicly confirmed. A related suit by that plaintiff against the Texans was also dismissed around the same time.
Is Anyone Else Covered?
No. These were individual lawsuits brought by named or pseudonymous plaintiffs for their own claims. No class was ever proposed or certified, so no one was included automatically and no one can join now.
If you believe you have your own claim about conduct like this, it would be a separate individual case. Texas time limits apply, and only a licensed attorney can tell you whether a claim is still open. Nothing about the Watson cases creates a fund or a deadline for anyone else.
What Was Paid and to Whom
The one public number is the league fine. Watson’s $5 million fine and $1 million each from the NFL and the Browns went into a fund for nonprofit organizations that, in the NFL’s words, “educate young people on healthy relationships, promote education and prevention of sexual misconduct and assault, support survivors, and related causes.” That money supports organizations. It is not paid out to individuals, and there is no application process for the public.
Deshaun Watson Lawsuit Timeline
- 1
March 2021 — First Lawsuits Filed
Massage therapists start suing Watson in Harris County, Texas, over sessions while he played for the Texans. Eventually 27 women file suit.
- 2
March 11, 2022 — No Criminal Charges
A Harris County grand jury declines to indict. A Brazoria County grand jury declines to charge him later that month.
- 3
June 21 – July 2022 — Most Claims Settle
Watson settles 20 of 24 pending suits. In July the Texans settle with 30 women, with no admission of wrongdoing. All terms are confidential.
- 4
August 18, 2022 — 11-Game Suspension
After Judge Robinson’s six-game ruling of August 1 and an NFL appeal, the league and union agree on 11 games without pay, a $5 million fine and a mandatory evaluation.
- 5
Sept. 9 – October 2024 — A Later Suit
An unnamed woman sues in Harris County alleging a 2020 sexual assault and seeking more than $1 million. The case settles confidentially in October.
- 6
Early 2026 — Last Cases Dismissed
The final two suits are dismissed with prejudice before their trial dates. As of October 2026 no related civil case is known to be pending.
Three Things to Watch For
A famous name, closed cases and confidential money create space for misleading claims:
“Deshaun Watson settlement claim” forms
There is no class settlement and no claims administrator. A site asking for your personal details or a fee to “file” a Watson claim is not connected to any court.
Headlines quoting settlement amounts as fact
Every civil settlement was confidential. Articles or videos that state what each woman “received” are speculating, and some exist only to drive clicks to lead-generation pages.
Recycled “new lawsuit” stories
The September 2024 suit is sometimes reposted as breaking news. That case settled in October 2024. Check the date and look for court records before you share it or act on it.
Deshaun Watson Lawsuit — Questions People Actually Ask
Is there a new Deshaun Watson lawsuit in 2026?
As of October 2026, no. The last two civil suits were dismissed with prejudice in early 2026 (reported February 9, 2026), and no other related lawsuit is known to be pending. The renewed attention comes from his return as the Browns’ starter after two Achilles tendon injuries.
How many lawsuits were filed against Deshaun Watson?
27 women sued him in Texas, starting in March 2021. One attorney, Tony Buzbee, handled 26 of them. A further group of 30 women made or prepared claims against the Houston Texans.
Did Deshaun Watson settle the lawsuits?
Most of them. He settled 20 of 24 on June 21, 2022, settled the September 2024 suit in October 2024, and the last two cases were dismissed with prejudice in early 2026 (reported February 9, 2026), with at least one confirmed as settled. All terms were confidential.
How much did the settlements pay?
Nobody has disclosed it. The settlement amounts were confidential. The only public figure is the $5 million NFL fine, which funds nonprofit organizations and does not go to individuals.
Was Deshaun Watson ever criminally charged?
No. A Harris County grand jury declined to indict him on March 11, 2022, and a Brazoria County grand jury declined to charge him later that month.
What punishment did the NFL impose?
On August 18, 2022 the NFL and the players’ union agreed on an 11-game unpaid suspension, a $5 million fine and a mandatory behavioral evaluation and treatment. Disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson had first set six games on August 1, 2022.
Can I join the Deshaun Watson lawsuit or file a claim?
No. These were individual lawsuits, not a class action, and all of them have ended. There is no fund, no administrator, no claim form and no deadline. Anyone with their own claim would need a separate case and should speak with a licensed Texas attorney.
Did the Houston Texans pay anything?
Yes, on confidential terms. In July 2022 the Texans settled with 30 women who had made or planned to make claims against the team. The team said this was not an admission of wrongdoing.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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