NFL Player Matt Alaza Escapes Civil Rape Lawsuit, Lawyer Confirms Settlement
In August 2022, a woman, known as Jane Doe, filed a civil lawsuit against former NFL player Matt Alaza and two other ex-football players from San Diego State University. All three men denied the allegations, and the suit named two additional individuals as defendants. CNN requested comments from both new defendants. The case was scheduled to be heard in court in February 2023, but in Alaza's absence.
Dan Gilleon, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, announced that this agreement released both parties without admitting fault. The agreement had no bearing on the events that occurred in October 2021. Instead, facts will be presented to a jury, who will decide who did what.
Alaza's lawyer described the victory as "bittersweet." In a press release, they noted that Alaza had been forced to defend himself against false accusations and a damaging campaign that ruined his NFL career. Alaza's attorneys have reserved the right to pursue legal actions against the lawyers and law firms representing the plaintiffs.
A few months before the lawsuit was filed, Alaza was selected by the Buffalo Bills as a player. However, he was released by the team just a few days after the lawsuit was filed.
In a press conference, Araza expressed his sentiments, stating that the accusations cost him not only his career but also his name and reputation. He added that this association would forever be tied to him.
Concentrating on his career, Alaza aimed to establish himself once again as a professional NFL player. According to his agent, there had been contact with several teams. "I am hopeful that I can restart my NFL career", Alaza said.
Additional Insights:
Early in 2022, Matt Araiza became a defendant in a civil case alleging gang rape. Although he denied the accusations, his lawyer described them as a "money grab" from the accuser [1].
The San Diego County District Attorney's Office had not filed criminal charges against Araiza or the other two teammates. They stated that there was insufficient evidence to support a criminal conviction and no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution [1].
On December 12, 2023, Araiza and the accuser mutually agreed to drop their respective lawsuits against each other. Neither party admitted any wrongdoing, and no money was exchanged. However, Araza retained the right to sue his accuser's lawyer, Dan Gilleon, after a one-year cooling-off period for a potential malicious prosecution claim [1].
The settlement effectively ended the civil lawsuit against Araiza and the other defendants. However, Araza may still pursue a defamation lawsuit against his accuser's lawyer, which, if successful, could reopen some aspects of the case.
[1] Source: edition.cnn.com
