MARIETTA, Ga. — Bo Jackson is waiving a $21 million judgment against his niece and nephew, who the former football and baseball star says harassed him and tried to extort him.
In February, a judge ruled in favor of Jackson in the lawsuit he had filed in April 2023 against Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica M. Anderson, also known as Erica Anderson Ross.
Jackson, who won the Heisman Trophy as a running back at Auburn and also played in the NFL and MLB, had alleged in his lawsuit that his relatives tried to extort $20 million from him through harassment and intimidation.
In addition to monetary damages, last year's ruling included a permanent protective order prohibiting his nieces from molesting or contacting him and his immediate family. He also said they should stay at least 500 yards from the Jacksons and delete posts about them on social media.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt said in his February order that neither Jackson's niece and nephew nor their attorneys refuted Jackson's claims or participated in the case after a May hearing. 2023, when they consented to a temporary protective order. The judge found that the Andersons were in default and accepted all of Jackson's accusations as true.
After that ruling was issued, a new attorney for the Andersons filed a motion in March to vacate that ruling and dismiss the lawsuit, according to court documents. In a filing filed Tuesday, Jackson and the Andersons jointly asked the judge to dismiss the February order, withdraw the Andersons' pending motions and enter a consent judgment.
“In the meantime, the parties conducted two mediations and reached a private agreement that resolves this dispute,” the document says.
Marbutt on Wednesday issued an order vacating his February ruling at the request of Jackson and his niece and nephew.
That consent judgment rules in favor of Jackson on several counts and dismisses others, does not award damages to Jackson or his niece and nephew, and says the parties will pay their own attorneys' fees. It also says the Andersons should not harass or intimidate Jackson, his wife and children and should stay 500 meters from them except in certain circumstances, including court appearances, sporting events and family functions. The Andersons are also not to have any contact with Jackson, his wife and children.
Jackson, 62, had alleged that the harassment began in 2022 and included threatening posts and messages on social media and public accusations that left him in a false light. He also alleged that the public disclosure of private information was intended to cause him serious emotional distress. With the help of a lawyer, the Andersons demanded $20 million to stop him. Jackson said he feared for his own safety and that of his family.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
