A Florida judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by two women against free-agent kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars that alleged McManus sexually assaulted them on a team flight last year, according to multiple reports Tuesday.
Circuit court judge Michael S. Sharrit ruled that, under Florida law, the women’s use of pseudonyms in the suit did not meet the “exceptional case” criteria for bringing the case anonymously, per ESPN.
“Fairness requires Plaintiffs be prepared to stand behind their charges publicly in the same way Defendant McManus must openly refute them,” Sharrit wrote in his ruling, according to ESPN.
The attorney representing the two women — named Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II in the lawsuit — said they plan to file an amended complaint using proper name identification, according to multiple reports. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can refile, and they have 10 days to do so, the reports said.
“Most defendants in sexual assault cases file these types of motions thinking that the victims won’t proceed if they have to publicly reveal their names,” Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the two women in the case, told multiple outlets. “We anticipated this ruling. To be clear, these women have no intention of running and hiding,…
