A former clinical psychologist for the San Antonio Spurs filed a lawsuit Thursday morning alleging the organization “ignored its repeated reports of indecent disclosures” by Joshua Primo, the 2021 lottery winner, who was fired from the team last week.
According to the lawsuit, Primo sued Dr. Hillary Cauthen embarrassed a total of nine times. The first incident allegedly happened during a psych session with Primo in December 2021 and was reported to Spurs management in January 2022.
“Instead of Dr. To respond to Cauthen’s reports, the Spurs ignored their complaints in hopes the organization could ignore and then cover up Primo’s actions,” the lawsuit, filed in Bexar County, Texas, reads. “The Spurs organization was willing to send Dr. Sacrificing Cauthen to keep who they hoped would one day be a star player.
“Once Primo’s behavior became public, Spurs were forced to act and release Primo. Spurs’ recent actions regarding Primo are too little, too late. Spurs’ public statement on Primo’s departure is a complete farce. Spurs’ behavior sends a strong message that, like other major sports organizations, they are willing to tolerate despicable behavior by athletes and sacrifice loyal employees as long as the athlete is successful on the pitch.”
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Primo, through his attorney, denied any wrongdoing and lashed out at Cauthen’s claims, saying she “plays with ugly stereotypes and racially charged fears for her own financial gain” and calling it an act of treason against a client.
“In an act of betrayal of her young client, Dr. Cauthen, who is 40, incorrectly claims Josh Primo exposed himself to her during her numerous therapy sessions,” said attorney William J. Briggs II. “Dr. Cauthen’s claims are either a complete fabrication, a crude embellishment, or utter fantasy. Josh Primo never intentionally exposed himself to her or anyone else, and wasn’t even aware that his privates were showing outside of his training shorts.
“What makes the allegations even less credible is the fact that Dr. Cauthen never informed her patient of the alleged exposure. Primo, with many years of experience as a sports psychologist. It’s amazing why she didn’t bother to tell her patient that his privates were showing under his shorts.
Cauthen’s attorney, Tony Buzbee said Cauthen intends to file a criminal complaint alleging multiple indecent exposures against Primo in Bexar County and that Cauthen will cooperate with authorities under the laws regarding confidentiality between a patient and a psychologist.
Spurs CEO RC Buford said the franchise “disagreed with the accuracy of the facts, details and timelines presented [Thursday].”
“While we would like to share more information, we will allow legal recourse,” Buford said, adding that Spurs “remain committed to upholding the highest standards and will continue to live by our values and our culture.”
Primo, the No. 12 draft pick in 2021, was released on Friday, less than three weeks after the Spurs exercised his team’s third-year option that guaranteed a $4.3 million salary for the 2023-24 season .
Buford cited the “best interests of both the organization and Joshua” in a statement when he was released by Spurs.
According to Buzbee, just days after he allegedly exposed himself to another woman during the Spurs’ trip to Minnesota last week, Primo was fired when Primo was kept away from San Antonio’s loss. Buzbee said Primo also allegedly committed lewd disclosures in Las Vegas in July while he was there for the NBA’s summer league.
“Josh Primo’s behavior falls well outside the bounds of what is normal and acceptable,” Buzbee said in a news conference Thursday morning at his Houston office. “His behavior is a conscience shake. I would also say that the Spurs’ behavior, the way they dealt with that behavior, was outrageous and absolutely unreasonable.”
Buzbee is also representing the women who have alleged sexual assault and inappropriate sexual misconduct at the hands of suspended Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Cauthen was signed by Spurs in April 2021. Her employment with the organization ended when her contract was not renewed in August 2022.
The lawsuit alleges that Primo first exposed herself to Cauthen in December and that she reported the behavior at the time. According to the lawsuit, “there were numerous revelations that became increasingly extreme.”
Buzbee specifically cited Spurs general manager Brian Wright, as well as the team’s general counsel, assistant general counsel and head of human relations for failing to respond appropriately when Cauthen briefed them on Primo’s behavior in March after several postponed meetings.
The lawsuit states that Cauthen was asked to meet with Primo again in a public setting and that he allegedly exposed himself again. He asked to meet up with her again afterwards, but she declined.
Buzbee said Cauthen was told in June that coach Gregg Popovich was aware of the issue, but Buzbee added: “We may have concluded here that they were lying.”
Buzbee said that instead of addressing the issue with Primo, Spurs management told Cauthen to “sit it out”, telling her she could work from home and that the team had “lost confidence in her”.
“The right thing to do is to say, ‘No, that’s not okay,’ to hold people accountable, make systemic changes, and protect those who are suffering in silence,” Cauthen said at the news conference. “The right thing to say is, ‘I’m sorry. I let you down and we have to do better.’
“The organization I worked for let me down. … I have raised my hand. I asked for help. I offered options. My voice and my feelings, my actionable elements were silenced, individuals were impacted and I’m really sorry for that.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.