Auburn legend Bo Jackson has dropped the $21 million judgment he was awarded last year in an extortion and harassment case involving his niece and nephew.
According to court documents obtained by AL.com, Jackson and his attorneys filed a motion in Cobb County (Georgia) Superior Court seeking to vacate the default judgment and permanent injunction as well as a permanent protective order against siblings Thomas Anderson and Erica Anderson. Ross. The motion was granted Tuesday by Judge Jason D. Marbutt.
Jackson, 62, who grew up in Bessemer and played football and baseball at Auburn before becoming one of the world’s most recognizable athletes, filed a lawsuit in April 2023 against Anderson and Ross, accusing them of “harsh behavior.” “. harassment and intimidation. He was awarded $1 million in compensatory damages, $20 million in punitive damages, plus attorney’s fees in a default judgment last February.
Anderson and Ross argued that they did not attend the initial hearing because they were unaware and found out about the judgment against them through social and traditional media. They have since obtained a new attorney and, after mediation, filed a joint motion with Jackson to have the financial portion of the decision expunged.
“The parties conducted two mediations and reached a private agreement resolving this dispute,” Jackson, Anderson and Ross said in the court filing.
Under the terms of the new agreement, the Andersons must not threaten, attempt to threaten, harass or intimidate Jackson, his wife or children and cannot come within 500 yards of Jackson. If they attend events such as family reunions or funerals where Jackson or his family are present, they cannot have direct contact or conversation.
According to the original lawsuit filed by Jackson through his Marietta, Ga., attorneys, Anderson and Ross — one of whom lives in Cobb County and the other in Texas — attempted to extort $20 million to Jackson in exchange for not publicly disclosing information that could cast him “in a false light” and cause “severe emotional distress.” In addition to his earnings as a professional baseball and football player in the 1980s and 1990s, Jackson was also a well-paid pitcher for Nike and other companies and also ran a number of successful businesses over the years. years.
Jackson also sought a protective order against Anderson and Ross, who he said threatened to disrupt an April 2023 charity event in addition to posting potentially harmful claims via social media. According to the lawsuit, Jackson feared for his and his family’s safety.
Anderson and Ross filed a motion in March to have the judgment thrown out, citing Jackson’s case as “paper thin” and following “years of Jackson tarnishing Thomas’ reputation by falsely telling others that Thomas abused drugs and assaulted his wife,” according to the Atlanta newspaper. Journal-Constitution. They accused their original lawyer of lying to them and failing to ensure they were properly informed of the January 2024 hearing.
“Jackson seeks to use his power, fame and financial resources to intimidate and ultimately silence his niece and nephew,” Anderson and Ross told the court in March 2024, according to the AJC. “The Andersons should not be left destitute because their lawyer lied to them. »
Jackson’s attorney, David Conley, told AL.com that neither he, his office nor Jackson would have any further comment on the matter.
