Resolution of Civil Case Against SDSU Football Players

News Summary

A civil case involving allegations of rape against several San Diego State University football players has been resolved. The incident, which occurred at an off-campus party in 2021, attracted national attention, especially due to the involvement of high-profile punter Matt Araiza. The case included mutual dismissals of lawsuits, and while settlement terms remain undisclosed, the legal struggles concerning the players have come to a close. This situation has reignited discussions about consent and accountability in collegiate sports.

San Diego – A civil case involving allegations of rape against several San Diego State University football players has been fully resolved. The case, which dates back to an incident at an off-campus party in October 2021, was confirmed to be settled during a readiness hearing on Friday. The woman’s attorney, Dan Gilleon, announced this development in the San Diego Superior Court.

Part of the resolved case included the dismissal of claims against defendant Nowlin Pa’a Ewaliko. Official court documents confirming this dismissal are expected to be filed soon, although the specific terms of the settlement reached with Ewaliko have not been disclosed. Notably, Ewaliko does not currently have legal representation and has not been located for comment.

The lawsuit, which was filed in 2022, drew significant national attention partly because of the involvement of Matt Araiza, a high-profile collegiate punter. Araiza has consistently claimed that he left the party before the alleged incident took place. The woman filing the lawsuit was a 17-year-old high school senior at the time of the event, and she accused several players of sexually assaulting her while she was intoxicated at the party.

In December 2023, both Araiza and the woman agreed to dismiss mutually each other’s lawsuits, with no financial settlement involved. Araiza, who had been drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2022, later reached an undisclosed settlement with the woman’s attorney after accusing the attorney of malicious prosecution.

Other co-defendants in the case, identified as Zavier Leonard and Jaiden Brown, were also dismissed from the civil suit in December 2024, with the terms of their settlements similarly remaining undisclosed. Initial court records indicated that the civil suit involved five defendants, all freshmen students during Fall 2021, excluding Araiza, who was a senior at the time of the incident.

San Diego police conducted a comprehensive nine-month investigation into the accusations presented, but the District Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to pursue any criminal charges against the players involved. Throughout the proceedings, defendants have maintained that their encounters with the woman were consensual. Police investigations revealed cellphone video clips related to the incident; however, Araiza was not present in any of those videos.

One defendant was removed from the lawsuit due to being unreachable for the delivery of legal documents. As a result, the case was narrowed down to the remaining players, culminating in the recent dismissals and resolutions.

This case has highlighted important discussions around consent and accountability in collegiate sports, specifically where allegations of sexual misconduct are concerned. As of the conclusion of the civil suit, the legal battles regarding these allegations appear to be settled, marking a significant development for all parties involved.

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Additional Resources

• San Diego Union Tribune: Last defendant settles civil case alleging 2021 rape by SDSU athletes
• CBS 8: Settlements reached with two ex-SDSU football players in gang rape civil case
• Fox 5 San Diego: Lawsuit against ex-SDSU football players alleging gang rape winding down
• Wikipedia: Consent
• NBC San Diego: Ex-San Diego State punter to play in Super Bowl after getting second chance
• Google Search: SDSU football rape case