Bo Jackson has given up a stunning amount in a case against his niece and nephew, whom he said tried to extort him. The former professional football and baseball player claimed that they threatened him as well.
Last year, a judge ruled in Jackson’s favor in the 2023 lawsuit he had filed against Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica M. Anderson. According to ESPN, Jackson alleged in the suit that his relatives attempted to extort $20 million from him through intimidation and harassment.
The Heisman Trophy recipient, 62, was awarded $21 million—which he has since given up—as well as a permanent protective order barring his niece and nephew from contacting him and his immediate family. They must also stay at least 500 yards from the Jacksons and remove any posts about them on social media.
Cobb County Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt said that neither Jackson’s niece and nephew nor their attorneys refuted Jackson’s claims or participated in the case after a May 2023 hearing, per Associated Press.
The judge accepted all of Jackson’s allegations as true. In a filing Tuesday (Jan. 14), Jackson and the Andersons both requested that the judge throw out that order, withdraw the Andersons’ pending motions and enter a consent judgment.
On Wednesday (Jan. 15), Marbutt issued an order vacating his February ruling at the request of Jackson and his niece and nephew.
Jackson had previously claimed that the harassment began in 2022 and included menacing social media posts and messages. He also said his niece and nephew made damning public allegations that were false.
The former athlete also alleged that public disclosure of personal information was intended to cause grave emotional distress. The Andersons apparently demanded $20 million to stop. Jackson insisted that he feared for the well-being of not just him but his family as well.