-
Michael DiRocco, ESPN Staff Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A circuit court judge in Florida has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two women against former Jacksonville kicker Brandon McManus and the Jaguars who accused McManus of assaulting her on an overseas trip to London in 2023, according to court documents obtained. by ESPN.
Judge Michael S. Sharrit granted a motion from McManus’ attorney Tuesday to rule that every Florida law using the pseudonyms of two women – Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II – does not meet the “exceptional case” criteria required to guarantee party anonymity. Sharrit also wrote that “justice requires that the Plaintiff be prepared to face the allegations in public in the same way that the McManus Defendant must publicly refute them.”
The ruling gives the two women 10 days to file an amended complaint using proper name identification, which the two women’s attorneys will file.
“Most defendants in sexual assault cases file these types of motions thinking that the victims will not go forward if they have to make their names public,” Tony Buzbee said in a statement to ESPN. “We look forward to this verdict. To be clear, these women have no intention of revealing and hiding, and will comply with the court’s order in a timely manner. We look forward to continuing to work on this important case.”
Sharrit’s order also said that the woman’s reliance on threats of physical harm to disclose her name is “generally speculative” and that “there is no indication that Jane Doe I or Jane Doe II faced a specific or imminent threat of violence or physical harm. If necessary to adjudicate their claims in general.”
“We are very pleased with the court’s order in connection with Mr. McManus’ motion to dismiss these allegations,” McManus’ attorney, Brett Gallaway, said in a statement Tuesday. “We expect him to return to an NFL playing field as soon as possible.”
Jaguar said it would not issue a statement in response to the judge’s ruling.
The woman filed a lawsuit on May 28 in Duval County Circuit Civil Court accusing McManus of sexually assaulting her on the team’s charter flight during a trip to London in 2023. The lawsuit accuses McManus of rubbing himself and grinding on her and the Jaguars failed. monitor McManus and create a safe environment for the staff to serve the team. They are seeking more than $1 million and are demanding a jury trial.
According to the lawsuit, the woman worked as a flight attendant on the Jaguars on September 28, 2023, an Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight and she claimed the flight “quickly turned into a party” because McManus and several other players ignored the flight attendant. personal space, air travel safety, and federal law. The lawsuit also alleges McManus recruited three other flight attendants to the party and passed out $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately for him.
Doe accused McManus of trying to kiss her while she was seated during a turbulent flight and twice assaulting her while serving two meals on the plane, according to the lawsuit. Doe I claimed during the first attack he made eye contact with another Jaguars player, who said he looked embarrassed at the behavior of McManus.
Doe II claims McManus grinded up on him while he was serving the plane’s second meal. According to the lawsuit, Doe II confronted McManus, who “smirked and walked away.” The lawsuit alleges Doe II remained on the plane’s second story to avoid McManus on the team’s flight from London to Jacksonville on Oct. 8.
The lawsuit says it was the first Jaguars charter flight the two women took and that they have suffered severe mental distress, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation. He had been removed from the core crew of the Jaguars’ charter flights, which he had worked hard for, the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit alleges that Jaguars committed gross negligence by failing to properly hire McManus, train him on inappropriate and sexual contact with flight staff, supervise him on flights, implement policies and procedures to protect flight staff from sexual misconduct by employees, and implement a zero-tolerance policy on inappropriate behavior.
McManus signed with the Jaguars on May 5, 2023, after being released by the Denver Broncos, on a one-year contract worth $2 million. McManus made 30 of his 37 field goal attempts and all 35 of his extra point attempts last season, but the team never made it back and he signed with the Washington Commanders on March 14.
