A lawsuit against Dwight Howard for sexual assault and battery has been dropped.
The case was dismissed on Monday in Gwinnett County Court, Georgia, by Stephen Harper, who had initially filed the lawsuit in July 2023.
Harper’s dismissal of all claims against Howard is with prejudice, meaning he cannot refile these claims. According to Justin Bailey, one of Howardโs attorneys, no money was exchanged for dropping the suit.
Allegations Against Dwight Howard
In the original complaint from 2023, Harper accused Howard of sexual assault, false imprisonment, and causing emotional distress during a July 2021 incident at Howardโs home. Harper claimed that he was sexually assaulted by Howard at his residence in Georgia. However, Howard denied these allegations and stated in an October filing that their interaction was consensual.
Later in December, Howard argued that the accusations were baseless and requested an immediate dismissal without trial.
NEWS: Sexual assault lawsuit against Dwight Howard dropped
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter)
Judge Denies Dismissal Request
Despite this request from Howardโs side, a judge denied it in February. Court documents revealed that Harper and Howard began communicating through Instagram direct messages starting May 2021. Screenshots of their conversations and an Uber receipt for Harper’s trip to meet Howard were presented as evidence.
Sometimes fans feel like legal battles can be so draining!
No Criminal Charges Filed
In July 2022, Harper reported the incident to Gwinnett County Police Department but no charges were filed against Howard.
Howard claimed that the case was made public for financial gain. His lawyers described it as โa classic case of unrequited love,โ stating that after one consensual night together, Mr. Harper wanted more than Mr. Howard did.
On the other hand , Harperโs lawyers insisted it wasnโt about unrequited love but about holding someone accountable for their actions. They wanted a jury to hear the case.
Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021-22 season with Los Angeles Lakers and has had a notable career with eight All-Star selections and three Defensive Player of the Year awards over his 18-season career.
