The already controversial sexual assault lawsuit against NFL Hall of Famer and media personality Shannon Sharpe took another dramatic turn last week when the accuser’s legal team failed to appear at the initial court hearing in Las Vegas. The no-show left observers stunned and the presiding judge visibly disappointed—only for attorney Tony Buzbee to issue a statement days later that added more questions than clarity.
Attorney Tony Buzbee blames mutual agreement for missing high-profile Las Vegas court appearance
“We are apologizing to the Court by letter for wasting the Court’s time,” Attorney Tony Buzbee told Pro Football Talk. “There was a mutual agreement among counsel to postpone the motion scheduled for July 9. As a result, there was no expectation by our team that her legal team would appear in person.”But the confusion only deepened when Judge Anna Albertson of the Clark County District Court reportedly “expressed disappointment” in court, per KLAS-TV, over Buzbee’s absence. Shannon Sharpe’s attorney, Robert DeMarco, did attend the hearing and requested a 45-day extension to review the case, which the judge approved. The next scheduled court date is now set for September 3.
Legal miscommunication or strategic legal posturing?
Legal analyst Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk questioned the optics of the incident, writing, “It’s odd that Sharpe’s lawyers would have shown up for the hearing, if the hearing had been postponed. It’s odd that, if/when the judge expressed disappointment… Sharpe’s lawyers wouldn’t have said that the lawyers had agreed to postpone the hearing.”This latest development comes just over two months after a $50 million lawsuit was filed against Shannon Sharpe, accusing him of assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery stemming from an alleged incident that occurred when the plaintiff was 19. Sharpe has categorically denied the allegations, calling them an “egregious attempt at blackmail,” and has threatened to countersue.
Public fallout and media retreat
While Sharpe initially remained on ESPN’s First Take following the lawsuit, he has since stepped away from the program. His legal team responded to the accusations by releasing explicit text messages and publicly naming the accuser. In turn, the woman responded with voicemails in which Sharpe allegedly issued threats.As the case heads toward its next hearing, the courtroom confusion and increasingly personal nature of the public battle suggest that this will be one of the most closely watched legal dramas involving a sports figure in 2025.Also Read: Shannon Sharpe’s sexual assault lawsuit spirals into courtroom chaos after accuser appears without lawyer