An extortion case against relatives resulted in a $21 million victory for a former Auburn football legend and Las Vegas Raider.
Bo Jackson, the former star player for the Las Vegas Raiders and a legendary figure in Auburn football, has secured a $21 million victory in a lawsuit against his niece and nephew for attempting to extort him.
Bo Jackson gained widespread recognition during his heyday, particularly through the iconic commercial slogan “Bo knows.” In these memorable ads, the versatile athlete demonstrated fictional prowess in various sports and occupations. This recent legal triumph underscores that Bo’s understanding extends beyond sports to matters of the law.
Towards the end of last week, a civil case involving Bo Jackson and his niece and nephew, Erica M. Anderson Ross and Thomas Lee Anderson, reached its conclusion, resulting in a verdict that granted the former Kansas City Royals star $21 million in damages. Additionally, as part of the ruling, the Anderson siblings are required to maintain a distance of at least 500 yards from Jackson and remove any social media content pertaining to the sports star and his immediate family.
In a suit filed this April, it was alleged that the Andersons employed harassment and intimidation tactics in an attempt to extort $20 million from the 61-year-old Jackson. These incidents of harassment and intimidation were said to have begun in 2022.
According to Jackson, his niece and nephew reached out to him and his immediate family via social media platforms and direct messages over the past two years, threatening to disclose damaging allegations against him that would tarnish his reputation. The lawsuit further asserted that they intended to make public private information with the aim of causing “severe emotional distress” to Jackson.
Moreover, the siblings allegedly threatened to loiter near Jackson’s residence to intimidate and harass him, as well as to attend a charity event he was hosting. The court determined that these actions lacked any reasonable purpose, and despite receiving a cease and desist letter from Jackson’s legal team, the Andersons persisted in their intimidation tactics.
Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt, in his ruling, noted that evidence presented to the court indicated that an attorney representing the defendants had suggested that his clients’ behavior would stop in exchange for a payment of $20 million.
“Unfortunately for those attempting to extort $20 million from Jackson and his family, Bo still hits back hard,” stated Jackson’s attorneys in a news release on Monday, following the verdict.
Jackson gained prominence as a two-sport star at Auburn University. He later achieved elite status as a player for both the Raiders and the Royals, although his career trajectory was altered due to a knee injury, which ultimately restricted him to baseball, albeit with diminished athleticism.
