Girl sues Spurs, Joshua Primo for ‘abhorrent conduct’

A former scientific psychologist for the San Antonio Spurs filed a lawsuit on Thursday morning alleging that the group “ignored her repeated studies of indecent publicity” by Joshua Primo, the 2021 lottery decide who was launched by the crew final week.

In accordance with the lawsuit, Primo uncovered himself to Dr. Hillary Cauthen a complete of 9 instances. The primary incident allegedly occurred throughout a psychological session with Primo in December of 2021 and was reported to Spurs administration in January 2022.

“Reasonably than act on Dr. Cauthen’s studies, the Spurs ignored her complaints, hoping the group might ignore after which cowl up Primo’s actions,” the lawsuit filed in Bexar County, Texas, states. “The Spurs group was prepared to sacrifice Dr. Cauthen to maintain what they hoped would in the future be a star participant.

“As soon as Primo’s conduct entered the general public sphere, the Spurs had been pressured to behave and launch Primo. The Spurs’ current actions with regard to Primo are too little, too late. The Spurs’ public assertion about Primo’s departure is an entire farce. The Spurs’ conduct sends a robust message that they, like different main sports activities organizations, are prepared to tolerate abhorrent conduct on the a part of athletes and sacrifice loyal staff, as long as the athlete is profitable on the court docket.”

The lawyer for Primo, William J. Briggs, denied the allegations in an announcement.

“In an act of betrayal towards her younger consumer, Dr. Cauthen, who’s 40 years outdated, falsely claims Josh Primo uncovered himself to her throughout the course of her quite a few remedy classes,” Briggs’ assertion stated. “Dr. Cauthen’s allegations are both an entire fabrication, a gross embellishment or utter fantasy. Josh Primo by no means deliberately uncovered himself to her or anybody else and was not even conscious that his personal components had been seen exterior of his exercise shorts.

“What makes the allegations even much less credible is that Dr. Cauthen by no means knowledgeable her affected person of the purported publicity. Dr. Cauthen was Mr. Primo’s psychological well being help supplier and confidant; a therapist who Mr. Primo trusted. She is way older than Mr. Primo, with a few years of expertise as a sports activities psychologist. It’s baffling why she didn’t hassle to inform her affected person that his personal components had been seen beneath his shorts.”

Buzbee stated Cauthen intends to file a felony grievance towards Primo.

Primo, the No. 12 total decide within the 2021 draft, was launched Friday, lower than three weeks after the Spurs exercised his third-year crew possibility guaranteeing a $4.3 million wage for the 2023-24 season.

Spurs CEO RC Buford cited the “finest curiosity of each the group and Joshua” in an announcement from the crew asserting his launch.

In accordance with Buzbee, Primo was waived simply days after he allegedly uncovered himself to a different girl throughout the Spurs’ journey to Minnesota final week, when Primo was held out of San Antonio’s loss. Buzbee stated Primo additionally allegedly dedicated indecent publicity in Las Vegas in July whereas there for the NBA’s summer season league.

“Josh Primo’s conduct is nicely exterior of the bounds of what’s regular and acceptable,” Buzbee stated in a Thursday morning information convention at his workplace in Houston. “His conduct shocks the conscience. I might additionally say that the Spurs’ conduct, the best way they dealt with this conduct, was egregious and completely unreasonable.”

Buzbee, who additionally represents the ladies who’ve alleged sexual misconduct by suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, stated that there will probably be a felony grievance with a number of counts of indecent publicity filed towards Primo in Bexar County and that Cauthen would cooperate with authorities inside the bounds of legal guidelines relating to confidentiality between a affected person and psychologist.

Cauthen was employed by the Spurs in April 2021. Her employment with the group ended when her contract was not renewed in August 2022

Buzbee particularly cited Spurs normal supervisor Brian Wright, in addition to the crew’s normal counsel, deputy normal counsel and head of human relations, for failing to appropriately reply when Cauthen knowledgeable them of Primo’s conduct. Buzbee stated Cauthen was informed in June that coach Gregg Popovich was conscious of the difficulty, however Buzbee added that, “We could have concluded right here that they had been mendacity.”

Buzbee stated that as an alternative of addressing the issue with Primo, Spurs administration informed Cauthen “to sit down it out,” telling her she might make money working from home and that the crew had “misplaced belief in her.”

“The proper factor is saying ‘No, this isn’t okay,’ to carry individuals accountable, to make systemic change and to guard people who undergo in silence,” Cauthen stated on the information convention. “The proper factor can also be saying ‘I am sorry. I’ve failed you and we have to do higher.

“The group I labored for has failed me. … I spoke up. I requested for assist. I gave choices. My voice and my emotions, my actionable gadgets, had been silenced. As a consequence of their inaction and safety of their property, different people had been impacted, and for that I’m actually sorry.”