Shannon Sharpe Accuser’s Attorney a No-Show in Court for First Appearance

Shannon Sharpe's accuser's attorney was a no-show in a downtown Las Vegas courtroom, forcing the case to be adjourned for 45 days.

The Las Vegas CBS affiliate, KLAS-TV, was on hand in the courtroom on Wednesday, July 9. Clark County District Court Judge Anna Albertson granted an adjournment on the case for 45 days after the ex-NFL star's attorney, Robert DeMarco, requested it on his client's behalf.

A follow-up hearing is scheduled for September 3 in the same courthouse.

Judge Albertson was reported to be "disappointed" that no one from the plaintiff's side appeared on the client's behalf, prompting some legal analysts to speculate that things weren't looking good for the accuser.

Speaking to the CBS affiliate, attorney Robert Draskovich — who does not represent either side — said that it was not in Sharpe's accuser's "best interest" to not appear in court.

“Whether to set up a settlement conference or to set hearings for litigation, you’d expect all parties to be present,” he said. “I can’t see a tactical advantage to be gained by failing to appear.”

However, Draskovich also speculated that it wasn't clear sailing for Sharpe, either. DeMarco, who appeared in court on his client's behalf, informed Judge Albertson that the other attorneys on his client's case were attending to "other matters." Sharpe's legal team is predominantly based in New York, which Draskovich suggests may be viewed unfavorably by the judge.

“Generally, it’s better to have home-grown counsel,” he said. “If you have a matter pending in Nevada, it’s best to have Nevada counsel.”

Jane Doe filed the lawsuit against Sharpe back in April 2025, accusing the Club Shay Shay host of multiple counts of assault, sexual assault, battery, and sexual battery. Following the filing, Sharpe's legal team accused her of engaging in a "shakedown" against the Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Sharpe, himself, released a statement echoing his legal team's statement. “To my family, friends, supporters and colleagues, I want to speak to you directly and from the heart,” Sharpe said in a video released on X (formerly Twitter). “This is a shakedown. I’m going to be open, transparent and defend myself, because this isn’t right.”