close
close

Former Jaguars kicker accused of sexual assault in newly filed civil lawsuit – 104.5 WOKV

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus is accused of sexually assaulting two flight attendants on a team flight to London last year.

Both McManus and the Jaguars are named as defendants in the civil lawsuit filed Friday night in Duval County.

According to ESPN, the two women, named Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, claimed in the lawsuit that McManus attempted to kiss one of them during a team charter flight to London.

Both women claim that McManus “soogged” them and offered other flight attendants $100 bills to drink and dance inappropriately for him.

ESPN also reported that the lawsuit accuses the Jaguars of gross negligence for failing to adequately inform McManus about inappropriate sexual contact with flight crew.

According to ESPN, the women are demanding more than a million dollars and a jury trial.

Dale Carson, legal and security expert at Action News Jax, said because the lawsuit is filed in civil court, the burden of proof is much lower than if an alleged crime was committed.

“There will be a lot of negotiation between the sides and ultimately they will probably reach an agreement,” Carson said.

McManus signed with the Jaguars in May 2023 and played one season for the team.

This March he signed with the Washington Commanders.

Action News Jax has reached out to McManus’ agent, his current team, the Washington Commanders, and the Jaguars for comment.

We are aware of the complaint and recognize the significance of the allegations. As we continue to look into the matter, it must be emphasized that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and our game with the highest character and class.” a Jaguars spokesman said in an emailed statement.

A Commanders spokesman said the team was informed of the lawsuit on Monday, adding: “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are investigating the matter.”

We are still waiting for a response from McManus’ agent.

(DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for breaking news alerts)

Carson pointed out that even if the allegations ultimately turn out not to be true, the mere filing of the lawsuit would damage McManus’ career.

“An allegation of this nature can obviously impact a man’s career and have potentially devastating consequences for him,” Carson said.

Carson said he expects this case could take years to play out in court before a settlement or verdict is reached.

“But when we think about something like this, you know that often just making a claim like this, even if it turns out to be unfounded, is enough to generate a lot of controversy, as is currently the case,” Carson said.

Because of the holiday weekend, a copy of the complaint was not available on the Duval County court’s website Monday.

Action News Jax is working to obtain a copy of the complaint and will report on the radio and online as developments continue.

(LOG IN: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter)

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, Click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your Smart TV and Click here to stream Action News Jax live.