The sexual assault lawsuit filed against former NBA star Dwight Howard has been officially dismissed. The civil suit, which was initiated by Stephen Harper in July 2023, accused Howard of sexual assault and battery. According to court records from Gwinnett County, Georgia, the case was dropped earlier this week.
The lawsuit stemmed from allegations that Harper and Howard had exchanged messages on Instagram, leading to a meeting at Howard’s residence. Harper claimed that upon arrival, he was coerced into sexual activity by Howard and another individual identified as “Kitty.” Harper provided screenshots of their Instagram conversation and an Uber receipt to Howard’s residence as evidence.
Howard’s legal team consistently denied the allegations, labeling the lawsuit as “frivolous” and a case of “unrequited love.” They argued that Harper’s claims were an attempt to extort money from Howard. Despite these assertions, a judge initially declined to dismiss the suit in February 2024.
The case took a turn when Harper decided to drop all claims against Howard with prejudice, meaning he cannot file another lawsuit based on the same allegations in the future. One of Howard’s attorneys confirmed that Harper was not paid to drop the lawsuit. This dismissal marks a significant victory for Howard, who has maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings.
In response to the dismissal, Howard expressed relief and reiterated his stance that the allegations were baseless. He had previously addressed the accusations in an Instagram Live broadcast, urging people to focus on more important matters and dismissing the claims as false.
