Buffalo Bills cornerback Maxwell Hairston is facing a civil lawsuit filed by Rebecca Hendryx in July 2025, alleging he sexually assaulted her in her University of Kentucky dorm room in March 2021. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky as Hendryx v. Hairston, Case No. 5:25-cv-00224, brings claims of sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress and seeks compensatory and punitive damages before a jury.1CourtListener. Hendryx v. Hairston Hairston denies the allegations and has pointed to a University of Kentucky Title IX process and a police review that produced no findings against him.
What Hendryx Alleges Happened
Hendryx and Hairston met in early 2021 outside their shared on-campus dormitory. Hairston was a 17-year-old freshman football player at the time. According to the complaint, on the night of March 24, 2021, Hairston came to Hendryx’s dorm room uninvited. She told him she was tired and did not want to see him. The lawsuit alleges he entered anyway, followed her into her bedroom, ignored her repeated refusals, forcibly removed her clothing, and sexually assaulted her.2The New York Times. Maxwell Hairston Lawsuit Sexual Assault Bills
The complaint says Hendryx reported the incident to law enforcement within hours and underwent a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner exam at a hospital.3Louisville Courier Journal. Maxwell Hairston Lawsuit Sexual Assault Bills Former Kentucky Football Player She later transferred out of the University of Kentucky, which the lawsuit attributes to emotional and psychological harm from the alleged assault.4Meyers & Flowers. Meyers Flowers and Bryant Law Center File Lawsuit Against First Round NFL Draft Pick Maxwell Hairston for Sexual Assault
The Earlier Title IX and Police Reviews
The allegations first surfaced publicly in 2022. The University of Kentucky opened a Title IX investigation, and university spokeswoman Dani Jaffe said in July 2025 that Hairston “was not found responsible for violation of university policy.”5LEX 18. Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed Against Former UK Football Player Maxwell Hairston Hendryx discussed the Title IX outcome in a 2022 Instagram post, saying the process did not rule in her favor.6Lexington Herald-Leader. Maxwell Hairston UK Football Sexual Assault Lawsuit
No criminal charges were ever filed. The Lexington Police Department has said it has “no report matching the allegations against Hairston.”7Democrat and Chronicle. Maxwell Hairston Allegations Suspension Buffalo Bills Cornerback Depth Chart The university denied a 2022 open records request for related police reports, citing student privacy laws and Hairston’s status as a minor at the time.6Lexington Herald-Leader. Maxwell Hairston UK Football Sexual Assault Lawsuit
The Claims, the Damages, and Why the Timing Works
The civil complaint was filed on July 1, 2025. It brings two claims: sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Hendryx is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for what the complaint describes as ongoing disruption to her emotional well-being and long-term professional goals. No specific dollar amount has been publicly disclosed.4Meyers & Flowers. Meyers Flowers and Bryant Law Center File Lawsuit Against First Round NFL Draft Pick Maxwell Hairston for Sexual Assault
Hendryx is represented by Meyers & Flowers and the Bryant Law Center. Attorney Peter Flowers said in a public statement, “Our client showed remarkable strength in coming forward, and we are proud to stand with her in pursuit of accountability and justice. No one — regardless of their status or athletic success — is above the law.”8New York Post. Bills Maxwell Hairston Accused of Sexual Assault in Lawsuit
Filing roughly four years after the alleged incident is possible because of Kentucky law. Although Kentucky’s general statute of limitations for personal injury claims is one year, the state allows civil sexual assault claims to be filed within five years of the act or within five years of the date of discovery.9FindLaw. Sexual Assault Civil Statutes of Limitations by State
How Hairston and the Bills Have Responded
Hairston addressed the lawsuit at Bills training camp on July 23, 2025. He said he had been “exonerated” by both the police and the University of Kentucky’s Title IX process, and that he had “volunteered to do multiple polygraphs” because he was “determined to get my truth out there” and “had nothing to hide.” He noted the situation had been ongoing “since I was 17” and for four years.10WKBW. Buffalo Bills CB Maxwell Hairston Responds to Civil Lawsuit That Claims He Sexually Assaulted a Woman He also said the Bills had conducted their own investigation and stood by him: “The Bills know the truth, and they know the real. They’ve been by my side from the start.”11Yahoo Sports. Exonerated Bills Rookie Maxwell Hairston
Bills General Manager Brandon Beane spoke at the 2025 NFL Draft in April, before the lawsuit was filed. Beane said the team had “fully investigated” the matter during the pre-draft process and consulted with teammates and staff at the University of Kentucky. He characterized the school’s findings this way: “It was one of those where there was zero information saying that this actually happened, to what the accusation was.”12CBS Sports. Bills First Round Pick Maxwell Hairston Accused of Sexual Assault Team Dismisses Claim After Investigation Beane said Hairston had voluntarily given up his phone and taken a polygraph test during vetting.10WKBW. Buffalo Bills CB Maxwell Hairston Responds to Civil Lawsuit That Claims He Sexually Assaulted a Woman After the lawsuit was filed, the team declined further comment and pointed reporters back to Beane’s earlier statements.13CNN. Buffalo Bills Maxwell Hairston Accused of Sexual Assault
In court, Hairston filed his answer to the complaint on September 23, 2025.1CourtListener. Hendryx v. Hairston
Where the Case Stands Now
The lawsuit is active in federal court. After Hairston’s answer, the parties entered an agreed protective order governing confidential discovery materials in December 2025. In April 2026, the court granted a joint motion extending the deadline for fact discovery to July 28, 2026. A jury trial is scheduled for June 7, 2027. May 2026 docket entries include a notice of withdrawal of counsel filed on behalf of Hairston, indicating a shift in his legal representation as the case moves toward trial.1CourtListener. Hendryx v. Hairston
Where the NFL Fits In
Under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, sexual assault is explicitly listed as prohibited conduct, and the league can investigate and discipline players based on “credible evidence” even without a criminal charge or conviction. Civil litigation is specifically named as a trigger that clubs and players must report to the league. The baseline discipline for a first violation involving sexual assault is a six-game suspension without pay, though that figure can be adjusted based on circumstances.14NFL Players Association. NFL Personal Conduct Policy
The Commissioner also has the authority to place a player on the Commissioner Exempt List, a form of paid administrative leave, if an investigation suggests a policy violation may have occurred. As of 2026, there is no public indication that the NFL has opened a formal investigation into Hairston, placed him on the exempt list, or issued any statement about the matter,15NFL. Bills First Round Pick Maxwell Hairston Accused of Sexual Assault in Lawsuit and he remains on the Bills’ active roster heading into his second NFL season.16Buffalo Bills. Maxwell Hairston Player Profile