Woman who accused QB Jameis Winston of 2012 ? files civil lawsuit...

Jameis Winston files countersuit against accuser in civil lawsuit

Jameis Winston, the former Florida State star quarterback recently taken No. 1 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has filed a countersuit against the woman who accused of him of sexual assault.

The counterclaim was filed Friday. It comes three weeks after Erica Kinsman, the former FSU student who said Winston sexually assaulted her in his off-campus apartment in 2012, filed a civil suit alleging him of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In the countersuit, Winston alleged that Kinsman's accusations are "false, defamatory ... and have maliciously and impermissibly interfered with Mr. Winston's business and personal relationships." It claims that the accusations subjected Winston to "almost inconceivable amount of media attention" and led to the loss of significant endorsement deals.

"Mr. Winston brings this action against Ms. Kinsman out of necessity, not malice or ill will," the court filing said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "Nonetheless, Ms. Kinsman's false statements have irreparably harmed in his professional and personal life."

Winston is seeking actual damages of $75,000 and punitive damages to be determined at a later time.

Winston, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, was never criminally charged in the alleged incident. State attorney Willie Meggs declined to charge Winston after investigating the alleged incident in November 2013, and former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Major Harding ruled in December that the evidence was insufficient to find Winston responsible for four violations of the university's student conduct code.

Winston opened rookie minicamp for the Buccaneers on Friday. He signed a four-year deal worth $25.35 million, which includes a $16.69 million signing bonus, after Tampa Bay selected him with the No. 1 overall pick last week.