Former NBA star Dwight Howard recently had a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault and battery against him dismissed in Gwinnett County Court in Georgia. The lawsuit, filed by Stephen Harper in July 2023, was subsequently dismissed by Harper himself in a court filing on Monday. This dismissal was made with prejudice, preventing Harper from refiling the lawsuit against Howard on the same claims.
The lawsuit stemmed from an encounter at Howard’s Georgia residence in July 2021, where Harper accused Howard of sexually assaulting him. In addition to sexual assault, Harper’s complaint also included allegations of intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment against Howard. In response, Howard denied all allegations and claimed that the sexual activity between him and Harper was consensual.
In a December filing, Howard argued that the accusations against him were baseless and requested the court to rule in his favor and dismiss the lawsuit without a trial. However, a judge denied this request in February, leading to further legal proceedings. The original complaint included screenshots of alleged Instagram exchanges between Harper and Howard, along with an Uber receipt for Harper’s visit to Howard’s residence on the night of the encounter.
Legal Arguments
Howard’s lawyers characterized the lawsuit as a case of unrequited love, claiming that after one consensual evening together, Howard was no longer interested in maintaining a relationship with Harper. On the other hand, Harper’s legal team refuted this claim, stating that the lawsuit was not about unrequited love but seeking accountability for Howard’s actions. They requested the judge to allow Harper to prove his claims in front of a jury.
Dwight Howard, 38, is a former NBA player who last played in the 2021-22 season with the Los Angeles Lakers. Throughout his career, Howard has been an eight-time All-Star and a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Despite the dismissal of the lawsuit, the legal battle has shed light on the complexities surrounding allegations of sexual assault and the importance of ensuring accountability in such cases.
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