Hall of Fame tight end and outspoken media figure Shannon Sharpe has fired back against a sexual assault lawsuit with plans to file his own legal counterpunch. In a video this Tuesday, Sharpe revealed his intentions to respond to the allegations against him not just against the plaintiff but also potentially targeting her lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Sharpe’s legal advisor, Lanny Davis, confirmed in a press conference the intentions to initiate these counterclaims. Speaking candidly, Davis stated, "There will be a counterclaim. She will be held accountable for a willful and vicious accusation. She’s not protected because it’s in a filing in a lawsuit. She will get a judgment against her in a court of law. And that will come from our counterclaim."
Although the lawyer Tony Buzbee is not currently facing a lawsuit, Davis did not entirely dismiss the possibility. The crucial point, as clarified by Davis, is the absence of any evidence suggesting Buzbee’s knowledge of any falsehood in the claims he's pursuing. "We don’t know whether Buzbee is aware the allegations made by the plaintiffs are willfully false," Davis said, offering Buzbee the benefit of the doubt while making it clear Sharpe insists the accusations are baseless.
The strategy allows Sharpe to initiate his counterclaim directly as a response to the legal action presented against him, sidestepping the need to file a standalone lawsuit. He strongly maintains this lawsuit stems from a fabricated narrative, asserting, "we are saying that this plaintiff is lying, she knows she’s lying, she knows this was a consensual relationship."
