A lawyer representing BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff denied allegations in a civil lawsuit that his consumer raped, strangled and bit a lady in 2023.
In a response to the lawsuit in Third Judicial District Courtroom in Utah filed Friday, Retzlalff’s lawyer wrote: “Mr. Retzlaff particularly and categorically denies every and all allegations that he bit, raped or strangled [the woman], that are ridiculous and weird allegations, all of that are false and unfaithful.”
The response claimed that Retzlaff and the lady, recognized within the lawsuit as Jane Doe A.G., had consensual intercourse at Retzlaff’s condominium in November 2023, and that that they had lighthearted textual content messages exchanges into February 2024. It additionally characterizes the civil lawsuit as an extortion try based mostly on the concept Retzlaff developed into an NFL prospect roughly a yr after their encounter.
Each the unique criticism and the response agree that Retzlaff and the lady linked via social media, which led to her visiting Retzlaff’s condominium to play video video games on or round Nov. 22, 2023. The lady arrived with a good friend and there have been associates and teammates of Retzlaff additionally current, in line with the lawsuit.
Later that night, the lady’s good friend left, after which Retzlaff and the lady began watching a film, the lawsuit states.
“In some unspecified time in the future they started to kiss, however Jane Doe A.G. didn’t need to do something extra,” the lawsuit states. “Retzlaff started escalating the state of affairs … and Jane Doe A.G. tried to de-escalate the state of affairs and tried to sluggish issues down, making an attempt to drag away, and saying ‘wait.’ She didn’t need to do something sexual with him.”
The lawsuit says the lady advised Retzlaff “no” and “wait, cease,” however he continued to power himself on her. After she tried to stand up out of the mattress, the lawsuit alleges that Retzlaff put his palms round her neck and proceeded to rape her.
“It harm so dangerous and brought about a lot ache that Jane Doe A.G. handed out,” the lawsuit states. “Jane Doe A.G. remembers tears rolling down her face as she fought to breathe.”
A number of days later, the lady visited the hospital, the place a rape equipment was carried out and photos of her accidents had been taken. The lawsuit says she was linked with Provo police however didn’t initially share Retzlaff’s identify.
After the lawsuit was filed, BYU issued the next assertion:
“The college takes any allegation very significantly, following all processes and tips mandated by Title IX. Resulting from federal and college privateness legal guidelines and practices for college kids, the college won’t be able to supply further remark.”
Separate from the allegations of rape, an admission of consensual premarital intercourse constitutes a violation of BYU’s honor code. Based on the college web site, punishment for honor code violations can vary from a warning to expulsion. It doesn’t stipulate a transparent punishment for premarital intercourse, however there have been cases of high-profile athletes being suspended for having premarital intercourse previously.
In 2011, basketball participant Brandon Davies was dismissed from the crew — which on the time was 27-2 and ranked No. 3 within the nation — and suspended from college. He was reinstated that fall.
In 1999, working again Reno Mahe was suspended from college and compelled to go away the soccer crew. He transferred to a junior school and later reenrolled at BYU.