A former NFL star is denying allegations he sexually abused a relative when she was a minor after an Ohio jury awarded her a $25 million verdict.
After a damages hearing on Feb. 26, a jury determined that former Jets star Le’Veon Bell owes $20 million in compensatory damages plus $5 million in punitive damages to the female victim, who is identified in the suit as Bell’s cousin according to court documents obtained by The Post.
Bell’s younger brother, La’Vonte, was also found to owe the victim more than $11 million in damages.
The female relative first filed suit against both Bell brothers in March 2024 and alleged that both engaged in nonconsensual, incestual relations with her starting at the age of six or seven and they “continued through at least 2017.”
The lawsuit alleges that Le’Veon Bell had engaged in sexual encounters “throughout the plaintiff’s minority, including during his frequent returns to Central Ohio during his college years and beyond, and that Le’Veon Bell had used “slang terms” to direct the woman on which acts he wanted her to perform, citing one such instance where he “termed oral sex ‘fire.’”
Le’Veon Bell’s attorney Thomas W. Shaffer said the ex-NFLer “adamantly denies any and all allegations” in a statement to TMZ.
A jury trial took place in Bell’s absence to determine damages as court records show neither brother responded to the lawsuit.
Le’Veon Bell’s attorney further pushed back that the former running back was never served the civil suit nor did he receive any documents.
“The default judgment granted was based upon violations of his Fifth Amendment rights of due process for failing to be served,” Shaffer said in his statement. “My client is in the process of filing a motion to open and reverse the default judgment because the narratives of the case have never been litigated.”
John Camillus, the attorney for the victim, told the Columbus Dispatch that they had done everything under Ohio law legally required to serve both Bell brothers the legal filings.
The outlet also reported that the filings sent to an address associated with La’Vonte Bell were accepted and the filings sent to an address linked to Le’Veon Bell had not been returned to the clerk of court’s office.
Shaffer told the Dispatch that Le’Veon Bell told him that “he doesn’t live there” regarding the address the filings were sent to.
After months went by without receiving a response to the suit, Camillus filled a request for a default judgment, which was granted in October of last year, and a hearing was held on Feb. 25 and Feb 26.
The Dispatch reported that the woman had filed a police report in Columbus in Oct. 2022 accusing both Bells of sexual assault.
The woman’s attorney said that nothing occurred from it and neither one was ever charged criminally related to the allegations.
Le’Veon Bell played parts of two seasons of his eight-year NFL career with the Jets.
He racked up 6,554 rushing yards and 42 touchdowns during his time in the league, including stays in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Baltimore and Tampa Bay.
