The sexual assault lawsuit filed against former NBA star Dwight Howard has been officially dismissed, as confirmed by court records in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The civil lawsuit, brought by Stephen Harper in July 2023, accused Howard of sexual assault and battery.
According to Howard’s attorney, Harper was not compensated to drop the lawsuit. The court filing indicates that Harper voluntarily dismissed all claims against Howard with prejudice, meaning he is barred from refiling the same claims in the future.
In the initial complaint, Harper alleged that he and Howard had exchanged messages on Instagram, leading to an agreement to meet at Howard’s residence for a consensual sexual encounter. Harper claimed that upon arrival, another individual, identified only as “Kitty,” was present, and the two allegedly coerced him into participating in unwanted sexual activities. Harper supported his claims with screenshots of their Instagram conversations and an Uber receipt confirming his trip to Howard’s residence on the night in question.
The alleged incident was first reported to the Gwinnett County police in 2022. However, the case was suspended after Harper did not proceed with a formal interview, and no criminal charges have been filed against Howard.
Howard’s legal team has consistently maintained his innocence, accusing Harper of attempting to extort money from their client. In October 2023, Howard addressed the allegations during an Instagram Live broadcast, where he emphatically denied any wrongdoing. “Stop worrying about it,” Howard stated. “I ain’t gotta deny it, I don’t gotta talk about none of that crap. This s— didn’t even happen. You worried about the wrong stuff. That’s why it’s called an accusation. Allegedly. Come on, man.”
In December 2023, Howard’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, labeling it as “frivolous” and suggesting it was “nothing more than a classic case of unrequited love.” While a judge initially declined to dismiss the case in February, the lawsuit has now been dropped.
Dwight Howard, 38, is currently playing for the Taiwan Mustangs, where he shares the court with former NBA players DeMarcus Cousins and Quinn Cook in The Asian Tournament. His last appearance in the NBA was with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022. A former No. 1 overall pick by the Orlando Magic in the 2004 NBA Draft, Howard’s illustrious career includes eight All-Star selections and an NBA championship in 2020 during his second stint with the Lakers.
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