Tue Mar 11 19:00:00 UTC 2025: **Former NFL Star Le’Veon Bell Denies $25 Million Rape Verdict, Claims Improper Service**
CINCINNATI, OH – Former NFL running back Le’Veon Bell is vehemently denying allegations of rape and incest, contesting a $25 million default judgment awarded to his cousin, Jada Bell. The lawsuit, filed in Franklin County, Ohio in March 2024, alleges that Bell engaged in years of sexual abuse against Jada, beginning when she was six or seven years old and continuing until she turned 18.
Jada Bell’s lawsuit detailed a decade of alleged abuse, claiming Bell used coded language to direct her in sexual acts. In October 2024, a default judgment was issued against Bell after he allegedly failed to respond to the lawsuit. A subsequent jury trial determined the $25 million damages award.
However, Bell’s attorney, Thomas W. Shaffer, asserts that his client was never properly served with the lawsuit and was not living in Ohio at the time of the alleged service. Shaffer claims the default judgment is a violation of Bell’s Fifth Amendment due process rights and that Bell adamantly denies all allegations. He further stated that a motion to vacate the judgment is currently being filed.
Bell, who earned over $45 million during his eight-year NFL career, now pursues a career in professional boxing. The legal battle threatens to significantly impact his life and career. The case is ongoing.
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