Sexual assault charge against former Jaguars kicker dismissed after victims did not provide their names

A lawsuit filed by two women who alleged that former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus sexually assaulted them has been dismissed by a Florida judge after they failed to provide their names.

The women were identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, and while Florida law allows for anonymity, the judge ruled that this case did not meet the criteria for it. In his decision to dismiss the case, Judge Michael S. Sharrit wrote, “fairness requires that plaintiffs be willing to publicly support their charges, just as defendant McManus must publicly refute them.”

The case isn’t necessarily over, however. The women have 10 days to file an amended complaint, which includes their “proper names,” which their attorney told ESPN in a statement they plan to do.

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“Most defendants in sexual assault cases file these types of motions thinking that the victims will not move forward if they have to make their names public,” Tony Buzbee reportedly said in a statement to ESPN, which first reported the denial. “We expected this ruling. To be clear, these women have no intention of running and hiding, and will comply with the court’s order in a timely manner. We look forward to continuing to pursue this important case.”

The women filed a lawsuit in Duval County, Florida, on May 28. They accuse McManus of sexually assaulting them on the team’s charter flight to England in 2023 and allege that the Jaguars organization failed to do enough to create a safe work environment.

The women worked as flight attendants for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which operated the transatlantic flight from Jacksonville to London on September 28, 2023.

According to the lawsuit, the eight-hour flight “quickly turned into a party” with many team members, including McManus, drinking and disregarding “flight attendants’ personal space, aviation safety and federal law.”

The lawsuit alleged that McManus “recruited” three other flight attendants, who reportedly no longer work for Atlas Air, to “inappropriately” drink and dance with the players by giving them $100 bills.

But, the lawsuit said, the two alleged victims made it clear they wanted no part of the activity. One of the women said in the lawsuit that she felt like she was being targeted because it was clear she didn’t want to be a part of it.

I accused McManus of trying to kiss her while they were sitting during some turbulence on the flight. She allegedly told him to go away, and after he left her alone for a while, he grabbed her and “grinded” on her during both meals of the flight.

She claimed that during one of the incidents another player made eye contact with her and was embarrassed by McManus’ behaviour.

The second woman, Doe II, alleged that McManus also rubbed up against her during the second meal service of the flight. She claimed she turned and confronted him, but that he “smirked and walked away.”

Both women said the plane’s narrow aisle and large trays made it difficult for them to distance themselves from McManus’s allegedly offensive behavior, and they were both physically unable to protect themselves because of his larger size.

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The women said they had experienced severe mental anguish, fear, psychological and emotional distress, shame and humiliation since the alleged attacks took place. They also said they feared for their careers.

The lawsuit alleges that the two flight attendants were regular crew members on private flights for the NFL and that the teams generally behaved in a respectful and friendly manner.

The original complaint sought more than $1 million in damages and a jury trial.

McManus spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos before joining the Jaguars in 2023. He signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders in March but was cut from the team a week after the lawsuit was filed. He is now a free agent.

The league revised its personal conduct policy in 2023 to expand the definition of sexual assault and make penalties tougher, The Associated Press previously reported. The changes came a year after Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended 11 games for violating the policy after being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct during massage therapy sessions.