A Florida judge has dismissed a case against NFL kicker Brandon McManus, ruling that the plaintiffs' use of pseudonyms does not meet the criteria for anonymity in sexual assault cases.
A Florida judge has dismissed a sexual assault case against NFL kicker Brandon McManus, ruling that the plaintiffs' use of pseudonyms does not meet the criteria for anonymity in such cases.
Judge Michael S. Sharrit ruled that per Florida law, the two women's usage of "Jane Doe I" and "Jane Doe II" pseudonyms does not meet "exceptional case" criteria required to warrant party anonymity.
Judge Dismisses Pseudonym Usage in NFL Kicker Assault Case
Sharrit added that "fairness requires Plaintiffs be prepared to stand behind their charges publicly in the same way Defendant McManus must openly refute them."
The two women, referred to as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, had alleged that McManus sexually assaulted them on a team plane to London while he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Judge Dismisses Pseudonym Usage in NFL Kicker Assault Case
According to the lawsuit, the flight "quickly turned into a party," with McManus allegedly throwing $100 bills at flight attendants in exchange for dancing inappropriately.
Jane Doe I alleges that McManus rubbed and grinded himself against her during the flight, while Jane Doe II claims that McManus "smirked and walked away" after she confronted him.
Judge Dismisses Pseudonym Usage in NFL Kicker Assault Case
Jane Doe I also alleges that one of McManus' teammates looked ashamed of McManus' behavior when she made eye contact with him during the assault.
Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the Washington Commanders released McManus, who remains a free agent.
Tony Buzbee, the attorney representing the two women, said they "have no intention to run and hide, and will comply with the court's order in a timely fashion. We look forward to continuing to pursue this important case."
However, legal experts have expressed skepticism about the plaintiffs' chances of success given the judge's ruling.
"This decision makes it much more difficult for the plaintiffs to proceed with their case," said David Ring, a criminal defense attorney in Jacksonville. "The judge has essentially said that they must be willing to publicly identify themselves if they want to pursue their claims."
Ring added that the plaintiffs could potentially appeal the judge's decision, but that such an appeal would be unlikely to succeed.
"The Florida Supreme Court has consistently upheld the right of defendants to know the identity of their accusers in sexual assault cases," Ring said. "It is very unlikely that the Supreme Court would overturn the judge's ruling in this case."
The dismissal of the case is a setback for the plaintiffs, but it does not necessarily mean that they cannot pursue their claims. They could still file a civil lawsuit against McManus, which would not require them to use pseudonyms.
However, civil lawsuits are generally more difficult to win than criminal cases, and they do not result in criminal penalties.
The judge's decision is a reminder that sexual assault cases are often difficult to prove, and that the legal process can be challenging for victims. However, it is important to remember that victims have the right to seek justice, and that there are resources available to help them through the process.
