Sexual assault suit against Brandon McManus dismissed, plaintiffs can refile: reports

A Florida judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two women against free agent kicker Brandon McManus and the Jacksonville Jaguars. The suit alleges McManus sexually harassed them on a team flight last year, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

According to ESPN, District Court Judge Michael S. Sharrit ruled that the women's use of pseudonyms in the lawsuit did not meet the criteria of an “exceptional circumstance” under Florida law to bring the case anonymously.

“Fairness requires that plaintiffs be willing to publicly stand behind their allegations, just as 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 would file an amended complaint using their real names, according to multiple reports. The case was dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can refile the lawsuit and have 10 days to do so, the reports said.

“Most defendants in sexual assault cases file these types of motions with the belief that victims will not go forward if they have to publicly reveal their names,” Tony Buzbee, the attorney for the two women in the case, told several media outlets. “We expected this ruling. To be clear, these women have no intention of running away and hiding and will immediately comply with the court's order. We look forward to continuing to prosecute this important case.”

The women filed the lawsuit in May in Duval County Circuit Court civil court, claiming McManus rubbed himself against them while they were serving the team on an international charter flight to London in September 2023, the lawsuit says. The two women worked as flight attendants and claimed McManus handed out $100 bills to entice three flight attendants — not including Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II — to drink and dance for him, the lawsuit said. They also claimed the Jaguars failed to supervise McManus and provide a safe environment for personnel on the flight, the lawsuit said.

The plaintiffs demanded more than one million dollars in damages and a jury trial.

“We are very pleased with the court's order in connection with Mr. McManus' motion to dismiss these baseless allegations,” McManus' attorney Brett Gallaway said in a statement to several media outlets on Tuesday. “We look forward to him returning to the NFL field as soon as possible.”

McManus, 33, signed a one-year, $3.6 million contract with the Washington Commanders in March and was released in June, just over a week after the lawsuit was filed. He spent one season with the Jaguars after the Denver Broncos released him after nine seasons.

(Photo: James Gilbert / Getty Images)