Trial in Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ countersuit abruptly ends Tuesday
A paternity trial involving Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came to a sudden conclusion Tuesday.
The terms of the conclusion were not made immediately clear.
It came on the second day of an expected week-long trial at a federal court in Texarkana. And it came on a day when Jones was expected to testify.
Jones was countersuing a mother and daughter over a breach of contract of a settlement the mother had reached in 1998 regarding paternity.
Alexandra Davis, 27, and her mother, Cynthia Davis had been from “suing or supporting any suit” to establish paternity and to keep the terms of the settlement confidential.
Judge Robert W. Schroeder III to announced shortly after lunch on Tuesday that the case — along with all other cases tied to it — had been dropped with the resolution that the contract at the center of it would continue to be enforced.
According to court records, Jones had already paid more than $3 million to Davis since childhood.
Jones, 81, had brought the countersuit after a judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit brought by the younger Davis.
Per court records, Alexandra Davis had asked Jones for an additional $20 million.
The resolution came one day after Cynthia Davis had an emotional turn at the stand on the opening day. She sobbed while recounting the times that her daughter begged “her entire life” to meet with Jones “for 15 minutes.
”The judge called for a brief recess, the jury was ushered out, and Cynthia Davis and Jones shared a long embrace. Jones and Cynthia Davis both said they’re pleased with the terms and are relieved to put this behind them. Jones told CBS News Texas that he’ll now focus on heading to Oxnard, Calif., for training camp.
According to Jones’ claim, the agreement with Davis-Spencer included a lump payment of $375,000, reimbursement for medical expenses incurred during and after her pregnancy and housing.
Jones also established two trusts for Davis’ “care and benefit” until she turned 21 years old, the lawsuit states.
Jones claims that up to the time Davis turned 18, he made 230 payments to her until totaling approximately $1.9 million, including $70,457 for a new Range Rover vehicle and $33,714.11 for a Sweet 16 birthday party.
Jones claims he made 140 payments to her totaling $1.2 million from the time Davis was 18 to when she filed her lawsuit in 2022,.
“Plaintiff received approximately: $18,000 for a trip to Paris, France; $270,000 for four full years of undergraduate tuition and expenses at Southern Methodist University; $6,500 for a college graduation party; and $24,000 for a post-college graduation trip to Hong Kong, China, and Japan, among others,” the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit claims Jones has already given Davis approximately $3.2 million.
The Cowboys begin training camp in Oxnard this week. The team’s first practice is Thursday. Jones is expected to hold his annual training camp press conference on Saturday.