Sexual assault case against former Jaguars player dropped because victims did not give their names

A district judge in Florida dismissed a lawsuit filed by two women who claimed former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus sexually harassed them, but the suit was not named.

The women were identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, and although Florida law allows for anonymity, the judge ruled that this case did not meet the criteria for that. In his decision to dismiss, Judge Michael S. Sharrit wrote, “Fairness requires that plaintiffs be willing to publicly stand behind their allegations, just as defendant McManus must openly refute them.”

But the case is not necessarily over. The women have 10 days to file an amended complaint that includes their “real names,” which they plan to do, according to a statement from their attorney to ESPN.

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“Most defendants in sexual assault cases file these types of motions with the belief that victims will not proceed if they are forced to publicly reveal their names,” Tony Buzbee said in a statement to ESPN, which first reported the dismissal. “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 on May 28 in Duval County, Florida, accusing McManus of sexually harassing them on the team's charter flight to England in 2023. They also claimed the Jaguars organization did not do enough to create a safe work environment.

The women worked as flight attendants for Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, which operated the transatlantic flight from Jacksonville to London on September 28, 2023.

According to the lawsuit, the eight-hour flight “quickly turned into a party” during which many crew members, including McManus, drank and disregarded “flight attendants' privacy, flight safety and federal law.”

The lawsuit alleged that McManus “recruited” three other flight attendants – who reportedly no longer work for Atlas Air – to drink and dance “inappropriately” with the players, giving them $100 bills to do so.

But the two alleged victims made it clear they did not want to participate in the activities, the lawsuit says. One of the women said in the lawsuit that she felt she was being targeted because it was obvious that she wanted nothing to do with it.

Doe I accused McManus of attempting to kiss her while she was sitting during turbulence. She allegedly asked him to go away and after leaving her alone for a short time, he grabbed her and “rubbed” himself on her during mealtimes.

She claimed that during one of the incidents, another player made eye contact with her and appeared embarrassed by McManus' behavior.

The second woman, Doe II, claimed McManus also rubbed himself against her during the flight's second meal service. She claimed she turned around and confronted him, but he “grinned and walked away.”

Both women said the narrow aisle on the plane and the large serving trays made it difficult for them to move away from McManus' alleged abusive behavior and that they were both physically unable to protect themselves because of his size.

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The women said they had experienced severe mental anguish, anxiety, psychological and emotional distress, embarrassment and humiliation since the alleged assaults. They also said they feared for their careers.

The lawsuit states that the two flight attendants were regular crew members on privately booked NFL flights and that the teams were largely respectful and friendly.

The original lawsuit sought over $1 million in damages and a jury trial.

McManus spent the first nine years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos before joining the Jaguars in 2023. He signed a one-year deal with the Washington Commanders in March, but was kicked off the team a week after the lawsuit was filed. He is now a free agent.

The league revised its conduct rules in 2023 to broaden the definition of sex offenses and toughen penalties, The Associated Press previously reported. The changes were made a year after Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was suspended for 11 games for violating the rules after being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct during massage therapy sessions.