Former professional football and baseball player Bo Jackson has decided to forgo a $21 million judgment against his niece and nephew, who he claimed harassed and tried to extort money from him.
In February, a judge ruled in Jackson’s favor in a lawsuit he filed in April 2023 against Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica M. Anderson, who is also known as Erica Anderson Ross. Jackson, a former Heisman Trophy-winning running back at Auburn and two-sport professional athlete, alleged in his lawsuit that his relatives attempted to extort $20 million from him through harassment and intimidation.
In addition to awarding the monetary judgment, last year’s ruling included a permanent protective order against his niece and nephew. The order barred them from contacting or bothering Jackson or his immediate family and required them to stay at least 500 yards away from the Jacksons. The order also demanded that they remove any social media posts related to Jackson and his family.
Judge Jason D. Marbutt of Cobb County Superior Court stated in his February ruling that neither the Andersons nor their attorneys had disputed Jackson’s claims or participated in the case after a May 2023 hearing. During that hearing, they agreed to a temporary protective order. The judge found the Andersons in default and accepted all of Jackson’s allegations as true.
After this ruling, a new attorney representing the Andersons filed a motion in March to have the judgment set aside and to dismiss the lawsuit, according to court documents. In a joint filing on Tuesday, both Jackson and the Andersons requested the judge to vacate the February order, dismiss the Andersons’ pending motions, and approve a consent judgment.
According to the filing, the parties had conducted two mediations and reached a private agreement to resolve the dispute.
On Wednesday, Judge Marbutt issued an order to vacate the February ruling, as requested by Jackson and the Andersons.
The consent judgment, which favors Jackson on several counts and dismisses others, does not award damages to either Jackson or his relatives. It also states that both parties will cover their own legal fees.
The judgment further requires that the Andersons refrain from harassing or intimidating Jackson and his family and stay 500 yards away from them, with certain exceptions for court appearances, sporting events, and family gatherings. The Andersons are also prohibited from contacting Jackson, his wife, or their children.
Jackson, who is 62, had claimed that the harassment began in 2022. It included threatening social media posts and messages, as well as public accusations that damaged his reputation. Jackson also alleged that the Andersons exposed private information with the intent to cause him severe emotional distress.
With the help of an attorney, the Andersons demanded $20 million to stop the harassment. Jackson stated that he feared for his safety and that of his family.
