A woman identifying herself as the mother of Trent Brown’s child filed a civil lawsuit Tuesday accusing the Oakland Raiders offensive tackle of domestic violence.
In the lawsuit, which was filed in Alameda County Superior Court and obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday morning, Diorra Marzette-Sanders alleges that Brown “bruised, bloodied and battered” her on multiple occasions over the past two years — including a 2018 incident in which the 6-8, 380-pound lineman allegedly slapped and bloodied her face.
Marzette-Sanders also claims that when she told Brown she would take their son and leave, Brown replied that he would “shoot yo [expletive] in the [expletive] head before you walk out that door with my son.”
Brown’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and spokespeople for the Raiders and the NFL did not immediately reply to emails from USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday seeking comment.
“We attempted to get this matter resolved amicably, and we were unsuccessful,” Marzette-Sanders’ lawyer, Waukeen McCoy, told USA TODAY Sports.
USA TODAY does not typically identify victims of domestic violence, but McCoy said his client was OK with his client being named because her complaint is a public document.
Brown, who previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots, signed a four-year, $66 million contract with the Raiders in March. The deal made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
The lawsuit could lead to punishment from the NFL if Brown is found to have violated the league’s personal-conduct policy.
According to the lawsuit, which requests a jury trial and seeks unspecified compensation, Brown and Marzette-Sanders met via Instagram in 2016 and started exclusively dating in March 2017. Throughout their relationship, the lawsuit alleges, Brown exhibited “a pattern and practice of committing domestic violence” against Marzette-Sanders.
The lawsuit references several incidents to this effect, including one in March in which Brown allegedly choked Marzette-Sanders and another in April in which he allegedly slapped her and punched her in the ribs.
Marzette-Sanders also claims that Brown violated what the lawsuit describes as a “non-marital partnership” in which Brown allegedly agreed to financially support Marzette-Sanders “for the rest of their lives” and she agreed to maintain their home.
Marzette-Sanders claims in the lawsuit that Brown violated this implied agreement in June, when he “kicked her out of their house” and refused to financially support her. The lawsuit also makes multiple references to an alleged promise from Brown that he would marry her.
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