Zion Williamson sued by a woman
alleging the Pelicans star committed sexual violence against her
[May 31, 2025]
By BRETT MARTEL
Zion Williamson is being sued by a woman describing herself as a
former dating partner and who alleges the New Orleans Pelicans star
committed repeated sexual violence against her.
The civil lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on
Thursday night, identifies the plaintiff as “Jane Doe.” She claims
she began dating Williamson in 2018, when he played at Duke, and
alleges that he engaged in abusive behavior toward her in
California, Louisiana and Texas from 2020 until their relationship
ended in 2023.
Williamson's New Orleans-based attorney, Michael Balascio, called
the claims in the lawsuit “categorically false and reckless,” and
accused the plaintiff of extortion, which he said has been reported
to law enforcement.
“We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness, and we
unequivocally deny them,” Balascio said in a written statement
provided to The Associated Press. “This appears to be an attempt to
exploit a professional athlete driven by a financial motive rather
than any legitimate grievance.”
The lawsuit alleges that the first instance of sexual violence
occurred in a home Williamson had rented in Beverly Hills,
California.
The lawsuit also alleges that Williamson temporarily took the
plaintiff's mobile phone from her after the first two instances of
forced intercourse and also took her laptop after the second.
The complaint includes accusations of strangulation, death threats
to the plaintiff and her family, and physical abuse, including being
kicked, slammed with a car door, and suffocated until she lost
consciousness.
“We're going to be very cautious about litigating this in the
press,” said the plaintiff's attorney, Sam Taylor II, who is with
the Lanier Law Firm in Los Angeles.
[to top of second column] |
New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) looks on during the
first half of an NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets,
Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley,
File)
“This is a very serious case as reflected in the
allegations in the complaint, which are pretty detailed,” Taylor
continued, adding that his client “genuinely looks forward to her
day in court when she can tell a jury of her peers what happened to
her and seek justice.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages — including punitive damages —
for emotional distress.
Balascio said Williamson and the plaintiff “never dated, but did
maintain a consensual, casual relationship that began more than six
years ago,” when Williamson was 18.
“At no point during or immediately after that relationship did the
plaintiff raise any concerns,” Balascio said, adding that “only
after the friendship ended did she begin demanding millions of
dollars.”
Williamson also intends to file counterclaims and “seek significant
damages for this defamatory lawsuit,” Balascio said.
A Pelicans spokesman said the club was aware of the matter but
deferred comment to Williamson’s lawyer.
Williamson was the first player picked in the 2019 draft. In six
years as a pro, he has averaged 24.7 points per game. But has played
in only 214 of 472 regular season games — and no playoff games —
during that span because of a series of injuries, one of which
caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.
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