Bo Jackson, the renowned sports icon, filed a lawsuit against his niece and nephew, Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica M. Anderson, in April 2023. The case centered around allegations of harassment and extortion, with Jackson claiming that his relatives had attempted to extort $20 million from him through threatening social media posts and messages. This harassment began in 2022, as Jackson alleged, placing him in a false light and causing fear for his safety and that of his family.
In February, a judge found the Andersons in default, accepting all of Jackson's allegations as true. Consequently, the court ruled in Jackson's favor, awarding him a $21 million judgment against the Andersons. Additionally, the ruling included a permanent protective order requiring the Andersons to maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from Jackson and his immediate family. The order further prohibited any contact with Jackson, his wife, or his children and mandated the removal of all social media posts about them.
However, March brought a development in the case when a new attorney for the Andersons filed a motion to set aside the judgment and dismiss the lawsuit. This motion was made jointly by Jackson and the Andersons, requesting the judge to vacate the February order. Judge Jason D. Marbutt responded by vacating the initial ruling and entering a consent judgment. This judgment found in favor of Jackson on several counts while dismissing others, ultimately resulting in no damages awarded to either party. Each side agreed to bear its own legal costs.
"In the meantime, the Parties have conducted two mediations and have reached a private agreement resolving this dispute,"
- Bo Jackson
The resolution brings an end to a contentious legal battle that highlighted complex family dynamics intertwined with legal ramifications. The private agreement signifies an amicable conclusion to what had been a highly publicized conflict.
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