Woman files renewed defamation lawsuit against Jerry Jones and associates

A defamation lawsuit was refiled by a woman claiming to be the daughter of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones against the billionaire and two others. She alleges that they orchestrated a plot to paint her as an “extortionist.”

Federal Judge Robert W. Schroeder III recently dismissed much of the defamation lawsuit filed by Alexandra Davis, a 26-year-old congressional aide, against Jones, his longtime personal lawyer Donald P. Jack, and Jim Wilkinson, a communications consultant for the Jones family.

The new complaint accuses Wilkinson and Jack of falsely accusing Davis “of being an extortionist and portrayed Plaintiff as attempting to ‘shakedown’ Defendant Jones.”

Davis’ latest legal action is the most recent development in the contentious dispute that has unfolded both in the courts and in the media over the alleged reasons behind her request to be acknowledged as Jones’ daughter. In a lawsuit to establish paternity, Davis sought to be released from the confidentiality agreement her mother signed when she was a baby. Last December, the court ordered Jones to undergo a paternity test, which has been postponed.

Wilkinson has not commented on the recent defamation suit being dismissed, and Jack could not be reached for comment. The latest filing alleges that the defendants “were additionally closely working with” ESPN reporter Don Van Natta Jr., who wrote stories on the case.

Multiple ESPN stories about the paternity claims included comments from representatives of Jones and Davis, including repeated statements by Davis’ attorneys Andrew A. Bergman and Jay K. Gray denying that the woman was part of any effort to exploit the Cowboys’ owner.

The new claim also says Jones and his associates attempted to link Davis in a “‘conspiracy’ with others supposedly attempting to extort money from the Jones family.” Davis’ initial lawsuit seeking recognition as Jones’ biological daughter accused Jones and his representatives of waging a public campaign that attacked her character “based knowingly on false statements and accusations.”

In his 36-page order, Judge Robert W. Schroeder III stated that some of the alleged defamatory statements about Davis, published in two ESPN stories about the case, were either true or were “not defamatory.” He also ruled that Davis qualified as a “limited public figure” and as such had failed to make a valid claim of actual malice, a requirement under defamation law.

The new complaint claims that defendants “either knew the statements being made by them were false or they knew enough facts such that they should have entertained serious doubts as to the truth of their defamatory statements.” Furthermore, the defendants are accused of working with other media “to ensure all news outlets reported the statements Defendant Wilkinson had given to Van Natta.”

Wilkinson previously stated that Jones had no comment after the defamation suit was dismissed last month. The case has been widely covered by multiple news outlets.

The senior executive, Richard Dalrymple, called the allegations false in a statement but retired in February 2022, just before ESPN reported on the Cowboys’ secret settlement. The report, written by Van Natta, was followed weeks later by Davis’ initial claims against Jones.