After a prolonged legal battle spanning almost two and a half years, Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has settled a lawsuit filed by a woman who claimed to be his biological daughter. The settlement brings an end to a contentious legal dispute that involved breach of contract allegations and defamation claims.
The legal battle between Jerry Jones and Alexandra Davis, who alleged to be his biological daughter, began in March 2022 when Davis filed a lawsuit in Dallas County. The lawsuit sought to void a legal agreement that Davis' mother had made with Jones two years after she was born, which allegedly stated that Jones would provide financial support in exchange for them not publicly claiming his paternity.
Jerry Jones Legal Battle with Woman Claiming to be His Daughter Settled
Jones responded by filing a countersuit, accusing Davis of breaching the agreement. The legal battle took a significant turn earlier this year when a judge ordered Jones to take a DNA test as part of a paternity case filed by Davis.
In a separate development, Davis filed a defamation lawsuit against Jones, alleging that he and two of his associates concocted a plan to label her as an "extortionist." The complaint was based on statements made in an ESPN story and alleged that Jones' attorney, Donald P. Jack, and Jim Wilkinson, a communications consultant for the Jones family, falsely accused Davis of attempting to extort Jones.
Jerry Jones Legal Battle with Woman Claiming to be His Daughter Settled
As part of the settlement reached on Tuesday, the 1998 agreement between Jones and Davis' mother remains in effect. Jones dropped his countersuit, and Davis dismissed the pending lawsuits against him, including the one where he had been ordered to take a DNA test.
Addressing the settlement, Jones expressed regret that the situation had escalated to a legal battle but acknowledged its resolution. "It was resolved. It was unfortunate. It was sensitive to me and my family... It was resolved. I certainly am where I want to be," Jones said as reported by the Star-Telegram.
Jerry Jones Legal Battle with Woman Claiming to be His Daughter Settled
"I regret that it came to this, and I’m glad that it is resolved to everyone’s satisfaction," he added, according to NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
Davis had initially dropped her 2022 case a month after filing it, opting instead to pursue a paternity case, which led to the judge's order for a DNA test. However, in November, she filed the defamation lawsuit, accusing Jones of orchestrating a plan to falsely portray her as an extortionist.
Jones and his wife, Gene, have been married since 1963 and have three children, all of whom hold executive roles within the Dallas Cowboys organization. Jones serves as the team's president and general manager.
The settlement brings an end to a high-profile legal battle that has captivated the attention of sports fans and the general public. While the terms of the settlement remain confidential, it appears that Jones has resolved the dispute with Davis, putting an end to the allegations that have been made against him.
