Cleared of All Claims: Prescott's Legal Battle Reaches a Turning Point
Months after the Dallas police opted not to pursue charges, a Collin County judge has now cleared Dak Prescott of all civil claims related to the sexual assault allegations made against him. The saga, which dates back to 2017, saw the star quarterback facing serious accusations and a tangled legal trajectory.
The allegations originally surfaced in 2017 when Prescott was accused of sexual assault. In a dramatic twist, the accuser sought a staggering $100 million in exchange for not reporting the incident to law enforcement. Despite this, it wasn't until March of this year that the accuser officially filed a report with the Dallas Police Department.
In response to these allegations, Prescott took legal action on multiple fronts, filing both a civil lawsuit and a criminal report against the accuser. The drama intensified in April when the accuser’s attorney dropped a lawsuit in Dallas County only to refile a similar one in Collin County. This move prolonged the legal battle, keeping Prescott under continuous scrutiny.
Matters began to tilt in Prescott's favor in June when Judge Angela Tucker dismissed the accuser’s claims. This decision came after the Dallas Police Department concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations against the quarterback. Levi G. McCathern, Prescott’s attorney, remarked, "As we knew they would, they found nothing in their extensive exploration of the facts that would support a criminal prosecution."
Prescott’s fight wasn't confined to defending his innocence. He launched an aggressive counteroffensive by filing a civil lawsuit seeking over $1 million, citing extortion. His stance was unyielding, and he was supported by McCathern, who accused the accuser and her team of perpetrating a plot to extort money from Prescott.
"The original lies by [the accuser], her team, and their recent failed attempt to sue him civilly are all just a continuation of their extortion plot against Dak," McCathern asserted. "These ploys distract from the trauma of legitimate sexual assault survivors and undermine the progress that our society has made in supporting them." The sentiment expressed a deep frustration that the false claims were not only damaging to Prescott but also to genuine victims of sexual violence.
Despite the legal victory, the skirmish in court is far from over. The accuser’s attorney sent a letter in January suggesting she would drop the pursuit of criminal charges in return for $100 million, a move deemed extortionate by Prescott's legal team. A hearing is scheduled for September to determine if further legal action against the accuser is necessary. Prescott's lawsuit and the accuser’s counter-suit alleging extortion continue to clash in Collin County’s civil court.
The possibility of future litigation remains open, with the accuser’s motion for a "non-suit without prejudice," which allows her to refile the case in Dallas County. For now, Prescott can focus on his professional and personal life, though the shadow of these allegations still looms. Entering the final season of his four-year, $160 million contract in 2024, Prescott seeks to move forward and leave this chapter behind.
In a press statement, McCathern emphasized Prescott’s integrity and compassion, saying, "Mr. Prescott -- a new father to a baby girl -- has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault." The acknowledgment aimed to humanize Prescott, presenting him as someone not only wrongly accused but also deeply empathetic towards genuine victims.
Prescott’s remarks mirrored his legal team’s confidence. "I know the truth, I'm confident in what we filed, very confident in what we filed," he stated. His brief but firm comments sought to reassure fans and stakeholders about his innocence and resolve.
In a broader reflection, McCathern pointed out the damaging effect of false allegations, "To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially, malicious lies. We will not allow the Defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott." The statement encapsulated the gravity of false claims not only on Prescott’s career but also on his personal life.
As the legal battle continues, all eyes will remain on the upcoming September hearing, which promises to further define the narrative surrounding Prescott and his accuser. For now, he stands exonerated, clear of the civil claims that once threatened to cloud his legacy.