The Dismissal of the Sexual Assault Lawsuit Against Dwight Howard

A civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault and battery against former NBA star Dwight Howard has recently been dismissed in Gwinnett County Court in Georgia. The lawsuit, filed by Stephen Harper in July 2023, was dismissed by Harper on Monday. This dismissal was made with prejudice, meaning that Harper cannot refile the lawsuit on the same claims in the future.

The lawsuit stemmed from an encounter at Howard’s Georgia residence in July 2021, where Harper accused Howard of sexually assaulting him. In addition to sexual assault, Harper’s complaint also included accusations of intentional infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment against Howard. However, Howard denied these allegations, stating that the sexual activity between him and Harper was consensual.

In response to the lawsuit, Howard filed a request for the court to rule in his favor and dismiss the lawsuit without a trial, arguing that the accusations against him were baseless. Despite his request, a judge denied the motion in February. The original complaint from Harper’s lawyers included screenshots of alleged Instagram exchanges between Harper and Howard, as well as an Uber receipt for Harper’s trip to Howard’s residence on the night of the encounter.

Response from the Parties

Howard’s lawyers claimed in a filing that the lawsuit was simply a case of unrequited love, suggesting that Harper was upset because Howard was no longer interested in continuing their relationship after their initial encounter. Harper’s lawyers, however, refuted these claims, stating that the lawsuit was not about unrequited love but rather seeking justice for the alleged actions of Howard. They requested the judge to allow Harper to prove his claims in front of a jury.

The dismissal of the lawsuit marks the end of a legal battle between Harper and Howard. Despite the dismissal, the allegations made in the lawsuit have left a stain on Howard’s reputation. Moving forward, both parties will have to come to terms with the outcome of the case and its impact on their lives and careers.