By Patrick George
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott took a lot of heat when his team exited the playoffs, prematurely, over the winter.
But that heat may have been nothing compared to the heat he felt when a letter arrived on January 16, 2024 from the attorneys of Victoria Shores, which accused Prescott of sexual assault in February 2017 and demanded $100 million to forestall further legal proceedings.
Just as he is done on the football field, Prescott bounced off the turf after the latest misfortune, filing his own lawsuit on March 11, 2024 in the Collin County (TX) Court against Shores, alleging defamation and extortion.
Up until this point, details about the case had been scarce, leaving the public with little insight into the veracity of the allegations or Prescott’s intentions. However, the initiation of legal proceedings shed light on Prescott’s stance, as he adamantly refuted the claims, characterizing them as false and part of an extortionate maneuver.
In the filing, Prescott’s legal team cite several causes of action, including defamation and slander, civil extortion/duress, business disparagement, tortious interference with current and/or prospective business relations, civil conspiracy, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Following the filing of the lawsuit, Dak Prescott’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, made the statement “Mr. Prescott — a new father to a baby girl — has great empathy for survivors of sexual assault. He fervently believes that all perpetrators of such crimes should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. To be clear, Mr. Prescott has never engaged in any nonconsensual, sexual conduct with anyone. Lies hurt. Especially, malicious lies. We will not allow the Defendant and her legal team to profit from this attempt to extort millions from Mr. Prescott.”
In a tit-for-tat exchange, Mrs. Shores’ legal team, represented by Bethel and Yoel Zehaie, fired back, portraying Prescott and his attorneys as aggressors attempting to intimidate them. They went so far as to directly accuse Prescott of being a liar and a rapist, framing the lawsuit as an act of bullying. In an email statement to the Washington Post, Bethel stated “Dak and his lawyers are trying to be bullies and play hardball and victim blame.”
As the legal battle escalates, recent developments indicate interventions by the Dallas Police Department, which has hinted at investigations into both the sexual assault allegations against Prescott and the extortion claims against Mrs. Shores and her legal representatives.
In the midst of this legal turmoil, Prescott’s attorney disclosed that their client is seeking $1,000,000 in damages, with the intention of donating the sum to the Joyful Heart Foundation—a charitable organization dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual assault.
Given the complexity and gravity of the situation, the outcome of these legal proceedings could have far-reaching consequences, not only for the individuals involved but also for Prescott’s NFL career, as the league maintains strict policies regarding off-the-field conduct.
George will graduate from the University of Texas with a Master’s Degree in Sports Management in May. He can be reached at patrickgeorge@utexas.edu
