Two women have filed lawsuits against kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars, alleging McManus sexually assaulted them during the team’s trip to London last year, according to court documents obtained by ESPN.
In the lawsuit filed Friday night in Duval County Circuit Civil Court, two women identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II accused McManus of pressing himself against them and rubbing himself against them. They also accused the Jaguars of failing to supervise McManus and failing to create a safe environment for employees serving the team.
They are seeking more than a million dollars and are asking for a jury trial.
“These are completely fictitious and obviously false allegations made as part of a campaign to discredit and humiliate a talented and respected NFL player,” McManus’ attorney, Brett R. Gallaway, said in a statement Monday night. “We intend to aggressively defend Brandon’s rights and integrity and clear his name by showing what these claims really are — an extortion attempt.”
Lawyer Tony Buzbee, whose firm is representing both women, said in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday that an attempt was made to settle the case before the suit was filed.
“Our attempts at resolution were met with arrogance, ignorance, and stupidity, just as Deshaun Watson’s team tried to resolve those cases before they were filed. The allegations in this lawsuit are very serious. We thoroughly investigated them and spoke to witnesses before taking the case. We will pursue this case with the same tenacity we are known for,” he wrote in the post.
The Jaguars also acknowledged the lawsuit in a statement Monday night.
“We are aware of the complaint and we acknowledge the significance of the claims,” the team said. “While we are investigating the matter, it is important to emphasize that we believe in an organization built by people who represent our community and sport with the highest character and class.”
The Jaguars did not re-sign McManus this offseason; he signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders on March 14.
“This morning we became aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus. We take such allegations very seriously and are investigating the matter,” the Commanders said in a statement. “We are in communication with the league office and Brandon’s representation, and will have no further comment at this time.”
According to the lawsuit, both women worked as flight attendants on the Jaguars’ Sept. 28, 2023 Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings charter flight. They allege the flight “quickly turned into a party” as McManus and several other players disregarded the flight attendants’ personal space, air travel safety and federal law. The lawsuit also claims McManus recruited three other flight attendants to the party and gave them $100 bills to encourage them to drink and dance inappropriately.
According to the lawsuit, Doe I accused McManus of trying to kiss her while she was seated during a turbulence session and twice punching her while she was being served food on the flight. Doe I alleged that during the first assault she made eye contact with another Jaguars player, who she said seemed embarrassed by McManus’ behavior.
Doe II alleges McManus pushed her while she was serving a second meal on the flight. According to the lawsuit, Doe II confronted McManus, who “smiled and walked away.” The lawsuit says Doe II stayed in the second floor of the plane to avoid McManus on the team’s flight from London to Jacksonville on Oct. 8.
The lawsuit says the September flight was the first Jaguar Charter flight the two women worked on, and they have suffered severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation. They have been removed from the core crew of Jaguar Charter flights, which they had worked hard for, the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit alleges that Jaguar was grossly negligent by failing to properly hire McManus, train him about inappropriate and sexual contact with flight attendants, supervise him in flight, adopt policies and procedures to protect flight attendants from sexual misconduct by employees, and enforce a zero-tolerance policy regarding inappropriate behavior.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said Tuesday he didn’t want to comment on the lawsuit until new information was available, but he said Monday was the first time he heard about the allegations against McManus. He also said he wouldn’t describe the atmosphere on the chartered flight to London as a party.
“A normal flight is not like that,” he said. “This is a business trip, and that’s how we view it from an organizational standpoint, from a league standpoint. So, when I read that, that part of it was disappointing.”
Pedersen also said that seating arrangements on the flight are somewhat different.
“I’m not going to comment too much on those questions right now until I get more information, but we’ll sit down — I’ll probably make a brief comment — we’ll sit down, and we want to make sure the players are together and the coaches are together, the staff is together and things like that and everybody is comfortable and everybody has space,” he said.
McManus signed with the Jaguars on May 5, 2023, after he was released by the Denver Broncos. The Jaguars gave him a one-year, $2 million contract, and he made 30 of 37 field goal attempts and all 35 of his extra point attempts last season.
ESPN’s John Keim contributed to this report.
