Florida State Asks Judge to Toss Jameis Winston Accuser's Lawsuit
Florida State University asked a federal judge late Monday to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a former student, who claimed ex-Seminoles star and top NFL prospect Jameis Winston sexually assaulted her in 2012, ESPN has learned.
More than a year after it was announced that charges were dropped against Winston, the woman filed a lawsuit against the University's board of trustees this past January, alleging that the school's officials knew of her sexual harassment accusation against the star quarterback, but still created a hostile education environment around her. The accuser's lawsuit seeks undisclosed damages, including tuition reimbursement, compensation for pain and suffering and loss of past and present earning capability.
The school believes the lawsuit against the university should be thrown out on the grounds of them offering assistance to the woman, but at the same time, not being responsible for the treatment she received once the investigation went public.
"Regrettably the media's reporting of (the woman's) allegations led to an Internet and social-media backlash — harassment that FSU did not cause and in an environment that FSU could not control," the University states in the court filing, as reported by ESPN.
Meanwhile, Winston met with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week and could be their selection with the No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft in Chicago from April 30 through May 2.
This past weekend, Winston deleted his Twitter account, possibly to stay focused on football and nothing else.
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(Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
