Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson has enlisted the services of a well-known defense attorney who has previously represented high profile athletes.
According to KHOU, Watson has hired Rusty Hardin as his defense attorney as he faces multiple civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault with different massage therapists.
Hardin, a former prosecutor who became a defense attorney in 1990, has a track record of representing pro athletes.
Among Hardin’s NFL players, he represented former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon in 1996 when he was charged with choking and beating his wife at their Missouri City home. Hardin also represented former Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2014 when he was arrested in Montgomery County after beating his son with a tree branch, or as is known in Southern parlance, a “switch.”
Hardin represented former New England Patriots defensive end Michael Bennett in 2017 when a 66-year-old security guard at NRG Stadium accused him of injuring her after Super Bowl LI. The charge was later dismissed.
The NFL is investigating the claims against Watson and will evaluate them as it pertains to violating their personal conduct policy. As of March 19, seven plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against Watson in Harris County district court.
