Lawyers of footballer Araiza given permission to inquire about accuser’s sexual past by Judge

33

This week, a ruling has been made by a judge allowing the attorneys of ex-Buffalo Bills punter, Matt Araiza, to delve into the sexual past of the woman who accused him and others of gang rape at a party near San Diego State University.

The presiding Superior Court Judge, Matthew Braner, on Monday gave permission for the woman’s civil suit deposition to focus on the year preceding the purported assault in October 2021. He further directed that a majority of the questions should be designed to yield a straightforward “yes” or “no” answer, as per the San Diego Union-Tribune’s report on Wednesday.

In his written statement, the judge pointed out that the woman’s credibility “will play a pivotal role in this case”. Therefore, Araiza should be given the right to question her public declarations concerning her age and number of sexual partners.

The woman has filed a lawsuit against Araiza and four of his fellow former Aztec football players, claiming that Araiza had sexual intercourse with her outside the house before she was led to a bedroom where she alleges she was gang-raped. She has stated to San Diego police detectives that she complied out of fear of physical harm. She was 17 at the time of the incident.

However, Araiza maintains that he stayed outside in the yard throughout the party and left about half an hour before the alleged bedroom incident took place.

He, along with most of the other former Aztec players accused in the lawsuit, insist that their interactions with the woman were consensual. Following an extensive police investigation, the District Attorney’s Office announced in December that no criminal charges would be pressed.

Araiza has counter-sued the woman for defamation last week, accusing her of deliberately spreading “false statements with a reckless disregard for the truth” when she gave her account to the police and later to the media.

Just a few days after the woman lodged her lawsuit, the Bills let Araiza go in August.

Known as the “Punt God”, Araiza was recognized as a consensus All-American due to his outstanding kicks that led San Diego State to an impressive 12-2 season during his senior year. He was picked by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Despite these accusations, Araiza is still striving for a punting position in the NFL. His legal team has stated that the ongoing civil case has discouraged teams from taking him on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Matt Araiza’s civil suit

More about Matt Araiza’s civil suit

• Former Buffalo Bills punter Matt Araiza’s career
• San Diego State University football team
• Details on Buffalo Bills’ team and players
• Explanation of defamation law
• San Diego Union-Tribune’s reporting on Araiza’s case