Former Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston has been sued over a 2012 alleged sexual assault, according to Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times. Erica Kinsman filed the lawsuit Thursday in Circuit Court of the Ninth Judicial District, and it alleges "sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of forcible rape."
Jameis Winston sued over alleged sexual assault
Jameis Winston has been sued over sexual assault stemming from an incident in December 2012.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
This is all stemming from the same incident in December 2012 for which Winston was investigated in late 2013. In a statement, Kinsman’s attorney said, “Over the past two years, this survivor of sexual violence has had to endure a delinquent police investigation, a hostile FSU athletic department and Mr. Winston’s bullying lawyer.
“But the more these forces sought to silence her, the more determined she has become to step forward and hold Jameis Winston accountable for his actions. With the support of her family, she is prepared for this fight and for the counterclaims and the smear campaigns that will surely follow.”
There was an investigation into the incident but no charges were filed due to a lack of evidence.
Florida State held a conduct hearing related to the incident but he was ultimately cleared due to, again, a lack of evidence. Retired Florida Supreme Court Justice Major Harding ultimately said that the evidence was “insufficient to satisfy the burden of proof.”
Though multiple investigations ultimately came to the conclusion of insufficient evidence, a lawsuit was not altogether unexpected.
The timing of the lawsuit is interesting, regardless. In two weeks, Winston is expecting to hear his name called in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Many have speculated that he could go first overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the lawsuit will not influence what the Bucs decide to do with the No. 1 pick.
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