Le’Veon Bell was ordered to pay $25 million after his cousin filed a sexual abuse lawsuit against him in March 2024, but he claims he just found out about the case.
According to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE, the former NFL star, along with his brother, La’Vonte Bell, are accused of engaging in “ongoing incestual relations” with his cousin when she was “six to seven years old” that continued “through at least 2017.”
The complaint alleges that Le’Veon “continuously engaged in these encounters throughout Plaintiff’s minority,” including “during his frequent returns to central Ohio during his college years and beyond.”
“None of these encounters were consensual and they happened with such frequency to habitualize Plaintiff to the abuse,” the complaint alleges, claiming that his cousin “suffered extreme and ongoing mental anguish and distress” as a result.
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Per court documents reviewed by PEOPLE, in October 2024, a judge issued a default judgment request for a jury trial to determine damages.
After a February hearing, Le’Veon was ordered to pay $20 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages. La’Vonte was ordered to pay $11 million in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages.
“My client adamantly denies any and all allegations that have been lodged against him. Further, he was never served with a civil complaint or any documents,” Le’Veon’s attorney, Thomas W. Shaffer, said in a statement to TMZ on Tuesday.
“The default judgment granted was based upon violations of his Fifth Amendment rights of due process for failing to be served,” the statement continued. “My client is in the process of filing a motion to open and reverse the default judgment because the merits of the case have never been litigated.”
In a Twitch stream on Tuesday, March 11, Le’Veon confirmed that Jada is his cousin but denied the allegations, per TMZ. “I just found out this was brewing up maybe about two days ago,” Le’Veon said.
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“Do y’all think Le’Veon Bell, do I need to force myself upon a woman? Anybody? Do I need to force myself upon them? I don’t,” the former football star said.
“I put this on my life. I put this on all my kids life, my mom’s life, I put this on everything, I never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever pushed myself on a girl when she ain’t want that s—. Never,” Le’Veon said. “I’ve never forced myself on nobody. I got my pick of the litter.”
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PEOPLE has reached out to Le’Veon and Jada’s attorney for comment.
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