Bo Jackson wins civil suit FILE PHOTO: Bo Jackson walks on the orange carpet at NIKE, Inc on September 8, 2022 in Beaverton, Oregon. (Photo by Tom Hauck/Getty Images for NIKE, Inc.) (Tom Hauck/Getty Images for NIKE, Inc.)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Bo Jackson has won an extortion civil suit in Cobb County, Georgia, where he accused his niece and nephew of trying to blackmail him.
Jackson, whose real name is Vincent Jackson, sued Thomas Lee Anderson and Erica Anderson Ross in April for trying to extort $20 million from him by using harassment and intimidation, The Associated Press reported.
Jackson said the harassment started in 2022 and included threats posted to social media and on messages, plus public disclosure of private information, WSB-TV reported. Jackson claimed that Anderson threatened on Facebook that he planned to release the athlete’s photos, text messages and medical records “to show America” he was serious, the AP reported.
Anderson and Ross threatened that they would show up at a restaurant near Jackson’s home and an Auburn University charity event. Jackson is an Auburn alum and Heisman Trophy winner, WSB reported.
His niece and nephew were ordered to pay $21 million to the former pro football and pro baseball player, with interest that will accrue until they pay. The Judge awarded $1 million in compensatory damages and for attorneys fees, with an additional $20 million in punitive damages, AL.com reported.
Anderson and Ross were also ordered in the Feb. 2 ruling to stay at least 500 yards from Jackson and his family, and to remove any social media content about him.
If they violate the protective order, they could be fined up to $10,000 and face 10 years in jail, WSB reported.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy in 1985, Jackson was also the 1989 MLB All-Star Game Most Valuable Player with the Kansas City Royals and a Pro Bowl running back with the then-Los Angeles Raiders. He retired from the NFL after a hip injury in a 1991 playoff game. He retired from the MLB before the start of the 1995 season, ESPN reported.
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years Here are some memorable photos of two-sport star Bo Jackson through the years. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1985: Bo Jackson, running back of Auburn, poses with Tim Greene, right, of Syracuse for the AP All-America team in 1985. (AP Photo)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1985: Auburn University's Bo Jackson poses with the Heisman Trophy at New York's Hilton Hotel, Thursday evening, Dec. 12, 1985. Jackson was named outstanding college football player of the year by the Downtown Athletic Club of New York. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1986: National Football League Commissioner Pete Rozelle, left, stands with Auburn running back Bo Jackson after he was chosen first in the NFL draft in New York on Tuesday, April 29, 1986, by Tampa Bay. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1986: Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson loosens up by throwing the ball during warmups with the Class AA Memphis Chicks on Sunday, June 29, 1986. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1987: Outfielder Bo Jackson, of the Kansas City Royals, follows through on a swing against the Seattle Mariners Sunday, June 7, 1987, in the Kingdome. (AP Photo/Robert Kaiser)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1987: Former Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson stretches along the sidelines Sunday, Oct. 25, 1987, after suiting up for his first NFL appearance with the Los Angeles Raiders. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1989: Bo Jackson holds up the MVP trophy after receiving the honor at the All-Star game in Anaheim, California, Tuesday, July 11, 1989. Jackson went 2-4 with a home run and a single and was credited with one stolen base. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1989: Kansas City Royals outfielder Bo Jackson helps his fleet-footed toddler, 1-year-old Nicholas, run from third base to home during the father-kids game in Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 10, 1989. (AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1989: Michael Jackson fakes a pass to Bo Jackson of the Los Angeles Raiders and Kansas City Royals at Michael's recording studio in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Nov. 28, 1989. Bo stopped by for a visit and gave Michael an autographed football and a baseball. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1991: Bo Jackson holds his crutches while waiting on the set during taping of his latest commercial for Nike in Culver City, Calif., May 1991. Jackson arrived on crutches to shoot the latest in the "Bo Knows ..." series of ads, but was able to make the dance steps and other moves needed for the ad. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1991: Bo Jackson dances during the taping of a Nike commercial in May 1991 in Culver City, Calif. Jackson's hip injury put his professional baseball and football careers on hold, but hasn't cost him a step in his job as commercial pitchman. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1991: Chicago White Sox outfielder Bo Jackson is shown in August 1991 during his rehabilitation stint in Sarasota, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1993: Chicago White Sox player Bo Jackson waves to the crowd as he takes a victory lap around Comiskey Park in Chicago following his team's 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners, Sept. 27, 1993. Jackson's three-run homer in the sixth inning provided the winning score as the White Sox won the American League Western Division title. (AP Photo/Jonathan Kirn)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 1995: Bo Jackson embraces his wife, Linda, in their backyard in Burr Ridge, Ill., April 4, 1995, where he plans to spend most of his time with his family, after announcing his retirement from baseball. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2010: Bo Jackson during the All-Star Legends & Celebrity softball game, Sunday, July 11, 2010, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2011: Former Auburn player Bo Jackson attends the Chick-fil-A Bowl NCAA college football game between Auburn and Virginia Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2012: Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Bo Jackson acknowledges the crowd after being introduced prior to the annual spring A Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, April 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2013: Former baseball and football player Bo Jackson is recognized on the field as a MLB Beacon Award recipient before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers baseball game Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in Chicago. The teams were playing in the seventh annual Civil Rights Game. (AP Photo/David Banks)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2014: Former baseball and football player Bo Jackson talks with Chicago White Sox first base coach Daryl Boston (17) before the White Sox's spring exhibition baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2016: Former MLB and NFL player Bo Jackson looks at a replica of his bobble head that was given away to fans before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers Thursday, July 21, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Photos: Bo Jackson through the years 2017: Former Auburn tailback Bo Jackson, right, and ex-Georgia star Herschel Walker speak during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game between Auburn and Georgia, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Atlanta. They were recognized on the field during a second-quarter time out. Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 1985, and Walker captured it three years earlier. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)