A civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault and battery against former NBA star Dwight Howard has been dismissed, according to a court filing obtained by ESPN. The dismissal came Monday in Gwinnett County Court in Georgia and was filed by Stephen Harper, who initially filed the lawsuit against Howard in July 2023. In Monday’s filing, Harper dismissed all the claims he had asserted against Howard with prejudice, meaning he cannot refile a lawsuit on those claims. No money was paid to Harper in exchange for him dropping the suit against Howard.
The lawsuit stemmed from a July 2021 encounter at Howard’s Georgia residence, where Harper accused Howard of sexually assaulting him. Harper’s July 2023 complaint also accused Howard of “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and false imprisonment. However, Howard denied those allegations and claimed that he and Harper engaged in “consensual sexual activity.” Howard subsequently argued that the accusations against him were baseless and requested the court to immediately rule in his favor and dismiss the lawsuit without a trial.
In the original complaint, Harper’s lawyers mentioned that he and Howard first began corresponding over direct messages on Instagram in May 2021, with Harper initiating the exchange. Harper’s complaint included screenshots of the alleged Instagram exchanges between Harper and Howard, along with an Uber receipt for Harper’s trip to Howard’s residence on the night of the encounter. Despite Harper going to the police a year later, no charges were filed.
Howard’s lawyers argued that the case was nothing more than a “classic case of unrequited love,” stating that after one consensual evening, Howard was no longer interested in maintaining a relationship with Harper. In response, Harper’s lawyers emphasized that the suit was not about unrequited love and urged the judge to see past Howard’s attempts “to escape the consequences of his actions” and allow Harper to prove his claims to a jury.
The dismissal of the lawsuit against Dwight Howard brings an end to a legal battle that has been ongoing since July 2023. The case highlighted the complexities of navigating allegations of sexual assault and the importance of thorough legal proceedings in determining the truth. Dwight Howard, known for his successful basketball career, can now move forward from this chapter and focus on his future endeavors.
Leave a Reply