Shannon Sharpe has failed to reply to the sexual assault lawsuit filed in opposition to him earlier this 12 months, with simply days remaining till the case is because of be heard in courtroom.
NBC Sports' Mike Florio, a former legal professional, mentioned a response is due inside 30 days after service in most jurisdictions. Florio famous that extensions are generally granted amongst legal professionals as a courtesy.
A listening to on three completely different motions to affiliate counsel is ready for July 9, at 10:00 a.m. in a Clark County, Nevada, civil courtroom.
In a press convention held two days after the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe's legal professional, Lanny Davis, mentioned a countersuit could be filed. At the moment, that swimsuit has not come to fruition.
Us Weekly has reached out to Davis' agency for remark.
Sharpe, 57, was accused of committing assault, sexual assault, battery and sexual battery in opposition to an unidentified girl in a $50 million lawsuit filed on April 20.
In keeping with Jane Doe, she and Sharpe had “a rocky consensual relationship” over two years, throughout which she alleges that Sharpe inflicted intentional emotional misery. She accused Sharpe of typically recording their sexual exercise with out her consent after which displaying the footage to others.
Jane Doe additionally accused Sharpe of changing into more and more controlling through the last months of their relationship, together with as soon as allegedly telling her, “I'll f***ing kill you,” when he seen she was attempting to share her location with mates.
Sharpe allegedly confronted the girl after she began ignoring his calls, resulting in an incident of nonconsensual, forcible intercourse in October 2024. The NFL Corridor of Famer additionally allegedly raped Jane Doe in January of this 12 months with out carrying a condom.
Davis, Sharpe's legal professional, instructed Us Weekly in April that the lawsuit is “crammed with lies, distortions and misrepresentations — and it'll not succeed.” He accused the girl of trying “a blatant and cynical try and shake down Mr. Sharpe for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.”
Sharpe has denied all the lawsuit's accusations, together with “the gross lie of ‘rape.'”
After the lawsuit was filed, Sharpe introduced a depart of absence from his duties on ESPN's First Take.
“At this juncture I'm electing to step apart quickly from my ESPN duties,” Sharpe posted by way of his Instagram Story on April 24. “I might be devoting this time to my household, and responding and coping with these false and disruptive allegations set in opposition to me. I plan to return to ESPN in the beginning of the NFL preseason.”
He continued, “I sincerely admire the overwhelming and ongoing assist I've obtained from my household, mates, followers and colleagues.”
ESPN has not made any announcement about Sharpe's future on the community. The NFL preseason schedule begins on July 31.
In case you or somebody you understand has been sexually assaulted, contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
