Jameis Winston recently expressed his negative feelings about the focus on off-field incidents while discussing his viability as an NFL quarterback, but it doesn’t look like that focus is going to be going away anytime soon.
Matt Baker of the Tampa Bay Times reports that Erica Kinsman has filed a lawsuit related to her allegation that Winston raped her in 2012. Winston is accused of raping her after she had a drink she believes included something other than alcohol at a bar in Tallahassee.
The lawsuit makes claims of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and “intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of forcible rape.” Kinsman’s attorney John Clune released a statement about the suit.
“Today, a very brave young woman filed her lawsuit against Jameis Winston for the sexual battery that she reported to police in December 2012.,” the statement reads. “Over the past two years, this survivor of sexual violence has had to endure a delinquent police investigation, a hostile FSU athletic department, and Mr. Winston’s bullying lawyer. But the more these forces sought to silence her, the more determined she has become to step forward and hold Jameis Winston accountable for his actions. With the support of her family, she is prepared for this fight and for the counterclaims and the smear campaigns that will surely follow.”
Winston was not charged by the Tallahassee police department and was also cleared of violating the Florida State University code of conduct.