Former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston faces a new lawsuit stemming from allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman on campus in 2012.
Erica Kinsman filed a civil lawsuit Thursday in Florida's Ninth Judicial District court alleging sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and "intentional infliction of emotional distress arising out of forcible rape," according to the Tampa Bay Times. Kinsman accused Winston of raping her in his campus bedroom in Dec. 2012.
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John Clune, Kinsman's attorney, released a statement concurrent with the lawsuit:
"Today, a very brave young woman filed her lawsuit against Jameis Winston for the sexual battery that she reported to police in December 2012. Over the past two years, this survivor of sexual violence has had to endure a delinquent police investigation, a hostile FSU athletic department, and Mr. Winston's bullying lawyer. But the more these forces sought to silence her, the more determined she has become to step forward and hold Jameis Winston accountable for his actions. With the support of her family, she is prepared for this fight and for the counterclaims and the smear campaigns that will surely follow.
We know that quite often the public is quick to support the cause against sexual violence but at times can be slow to support the individual women who come forward. We hope that this case becomes a model for understanding what real sexual assault cases look like as well as the barriers that survivors face in coming forward. Perhaps more than anything, Erica hopes to show other survivors the strength and empowerment that can come from refusing to stay silent no matter what forces are against you.
Jameis Winston in contrast has proven time and time again to be an entitled athlete who believes he can take what he wants. He took something here that he was not entitled to and he hurt someone. There are consequences for that behavior and since others have refused to hold him accountable, our client will."
Winston, who won the Heisman Trophy at FSU, is the favorite to be selected first overall in this month's NFL Draft. He was not charged with a crime in connection with the rape allegations, and a follow-up investigation by FSU found that he did not violate the school's code of conduct.
Kinsman filed a federal civil lawsuit against FSU in January, claiming the school violated her Title IX rights by not appropriately investigating her account that she was raped by Winston in December 2012.
Last month, FSU's board of trustees requested that the U.S. District Court in Orlando dismiss the case, saying the complaint “fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted."
