A sexual assault lawsuit filed towards Dwight Howard has been dropped, in keeping with court docket data in Gwinnett County, GA. The civil go well with, which was filed by a person named Stephen Harper in July of 2023, accused Howard of sexual assault and battery.
One among Howard’s attorneys advised ESPN that Harper was not paid to drop the lawsuit. Per the submitting, Harper dismissed all of his claims towards Howard, and did so with prejudice, which implies he can’t file one other go well with sooner or later based mostly on those self same claims.
In Harper’s criticism, he alleged that he exchanged messages with Howard on Instagram and agreed to fulfill at Howard’s residence for a sexual encounter. Upon arrival, one other man, recognized as “Kitty,” was there, and the 2 compelled Harper to take part in sexual exercise. Harper supplied screenshots of the alleged Instagram dialog in addition to a Uber receipt to Howard’s residence on the night time of the incident.
Harper first reported the alleged assault to Gwinnett County police in 2022, however by no means gave a proper interview so the police ultimately suspended the case. Legal fees haven’t been filed towards Howard.
Howard’s legal professionals accused Harper of making an attempt to extort their consumer for cash in an announcement to ESPN in October of 2023. In an Instagram Dwell broadcast that very same month, Howard denied the accusations. “Cease worrying about it,” Howard mentioned. “I ain’t gotta deny it, I do not gotta discuss none of that crap. This s— did not even occur. You apprehensive in regards to the improper stuff. That is why it is known as an accusation. Allegedly. Come on, man.”
In December of 2023, Howard’s legal professionals filed a movement to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it was “frivolous” and “nothing greater than a basic case of unrequited love.” A decide declined to dismiss the go well with in February.
Howard, now 38, most lately performed for the Taiwan Mustangs alongside DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook dinner in The Asian Match. His final NBA look got here in 2022 with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Earlier than that, Howard was chosen by the Orlando Magic because the No. 1 total decide within the 2004 NBA Draft. He was an eight-time All-Star and gained an NBA title in 2020 throughout his second of three stints with the Lakers.
