A Seattle woman filed a complaint in Los Angeles on Thursday, accusing former Duke and current NBA player Zion Williamson of rape and abuse.
The accuser, Jane Doe, claims in the civil case that the occurrences took place in many locations, including Louisiana and California, between 2020 and 2023. A copy of the complaint was obtained by The News & Observer on Friday.
Michael Balascio, Williamson’s lawyer in New Orleans, described the accusations as “categorically false and reckless” in a statement sent to The News & Observer via email. He disputed that the accuser was Williamson’s girlfriend and clarified that their connection was “casual and consensual.”
According to the statement, “this seems to be an attempt to take advantage of a professional athlete who has a financial incentive rather than a valid complaint.” The plaintiff didn’t voice any concerns during or just after that connection. It was not until the friendship ended that she started requesting millions of dollars.
Williamson has played for the New Orleans Pelicans since they selected him with the first overall choice in the 2019 NBA Draft. He was named the national player of the year in his one season at Duke. He also rented a house in California’s Beverly Hills.
According to the complainant, she first met Williamson in 2018 when he was a student at Duke. According to her, she broke up with him in 2023.
In a phone interview with The News & Observer on Friday, Sam Taylor, one of her lawyers with the Lanier Law Firm, stated, “Neither she nor our law firm want to litigate this in the press.” Although that is not our intention, we will state that the particular accusations made in the pleadings we filed in Los Angeles County demonstrate how serious this matter is. In the end, our client is eager for her court appearance so she may address a jury of her peers, explain what happened to her, and pursue justice.
Williamson “engaged in a continuing pattern of abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior toward” the accuser, according to the lawsuit, including “sexual, physical, emotional, and financial in nature” abuse.
According to the victim, in September and October of 2020, Williamson sexually assaulted her at his residence in Beverly Hills. She says that following both occurrences, Williamson took away her phone and other electronics, making it impossible for her to get in touch with anybody.
She also describes additional assault and rape cases that happened in Oregon, Texas, and Louisiana.
She further alleges that between 2020 and 2023, Williamson broke into her residence without her knowledge or consent, stole her personal items, and sexually and physically abused her. She said that Williamson threatened her and her family members on several occasions.
She said that during a 2022 incident in Louisiana, he pointed a loaded gun at her head, making her fear for her life. She also claims that she was falsely imprisoned, citing one instance in which Williamson knocked her out of a car by slamming the door shut as she attempted to get out.
Balascio, Williamson’s attorney, said this is just the latest accusation the woman has made against Williamson.
“Mr. Williamson reported the plaintiff’s extortion attempts to law enforcement,” he said in the prepared statement. “We understand that an arrest warrant was issued in connection with that report, and we are prepared to provide the court with documentation that supports these facts. Mr. Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit.”
The 24-year-old Williamson, who is listed at 6-6 and 284 pounds, has been a member of the Pelicans for five seasons.
“We have every intent to take this matter to trial, openly hold Mr. Williamson accountable and send a message that no one is above the law,” Taylor said in a statement following Balascio’s statements. “Each of these claims is supported by witnesses and corroborating evidence, but this filing still requires extraordinary courage on her part.”
