The sexual assault lawsuit against former Buffalo Bills punter, Matt Araiza, is set to be dropped by the accuser. Araiza’s lawyers, Dick Semerdjian and Kristen Bush, announced that an agreement has been reached between Araiza and the accuser. The agreement will require the woman to dismiss her complaint against him within the next week. Notably, Araiza will not be paying any money to the plaintiff, and he is reserving his right to pursue the plaintiff’s attorney, Dan Gilleon, and his law office for the harm caused to him.
Key Takeaway
The accuser of sexual assault against Matt Araiza has agreed to drop the lawsuit, with no monetary settlement involved. Araiza’s attorneys have announced his intention to pursue the plaintiff’s attorney and his law office for the harm caused.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit was initially filed in August 2022, with the accuser alleging that Araiza and two of his San Diego State football teammates raped her at a 2021 Halloween party when she was 17 years old. Araiza vehemently denied the allegations, and in December 2022, prosecutors announced that they would not be filing criminal charges against him, stating that “there is no path to a potential criminal conviction.”
Agreement and Consequences
Araiza’s attorneys described the agreement as “bittersweet,” emphasizing the toll the false accusations have taken on his career and personal life. Despite being picked by the Bills in the 6th round of the 2022 draft, Araiza was released by the team shortly after the lawsuit was filed. He has not played in the NFL since, but his attorneys stated his intention to return to the NFL and resume his punting career.
