*The first day of court in the lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe was a pretty bad one for his accuser, Gabriella Zuniga.
Awful Announcing, citing KLAS-TV, reports the accuser’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, was a no-show for the proceedings, which took place July 8, in Las Vegas. Commenting on the development, a criminal attorney not connected to Sharpe’s case told the station that Buzbee’s failure to appear at the hearing was “strange” and not in their client’s best interest.
“Clark County District Court Judge Anna Albertson expressed her disappointment in court that no legal representation was present for the plaintiff,” KLAS-TV reports.
Appearing at the hearing on Sharpe’s behalf was attorney Robert DeMarco.
Buzbee’s no-show for the first hearing marks the latest development in the case, which stems from a $50 million lawsuit filed just over two months ago against Sharpe. The 57-year-old NFL Hall of Famer is accused of “assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery.”
The lawsuit details Shape’s relationship with the accuser, who first met him when she was 19 years old and initially engaged in a “rocky consensual relationship” that spanned nearly two years. From the pairing came two instances of sexual assault and threats.
The 57-year-old Sharpe has denied the accusations, labeling the lawsuit as an “egregious attempt at blackmail.” Sharpe denied the allegations while threatening to countersue. Although he remained on ESPN in the immediate aftermath of the suit, Sharpe decided to temporarily step away from his role on “First Take” amid the legal drama.
The podcaster’s legal team went on the offensive, releasing salacious text messages and publicly identifying the accuser, who responded with the release of voicemails that depicted Sharpe threatening her.
Although he is off ESPN, Sharpe can still be found podcasting via new episodes of his “Nightcap” podcast.
With the first hearing out of the way, the legal battle continues. Sharpe’s team’s request for Judge Albertson to review the case’s progress and extend 45 days was granted, KLAS-TV noted, adding the next hearing in the case is scheduled for Sept. 3 in district court.
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