Jacobs of the Packers, victim file to block the broadcast of an altercation video

GREEN BAY (WLUK) — Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs and his ex-girlfriend have filed separate lawsuits, seeking to prevent the release of video of an altercation between them.

Jacobs was found guilty of misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property for the May 23 incident at his Hobart home.

After the criminal case concluded, a judge lifted the ban on the video’s release. Subsequently, media outlets, including FOX 11, requested the video from the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department. The department said it would release the video, but that triggered a window for Jacobs to object.

That’s exactly what Jacobs and the woman, identified as “Jane Doe ANM,” did in lawsuits filed Wednesday evening.

“ANM hereby seeks an order prohibiting HLPD from providing access to or disseminating, distributing or publishing the requested materials. The requested relief is necessary to protect ANM’s privacy, dignity, personal safety and emotional well-being and to prevent the unnecessary public release of identifying and sensitive victim information pursuant to Marsy’s Law,” the suit states.

Marsy’s Law is a constitutional amendment approved by Wisconsin residents, guaranteeing the rights of victims.

His lawsuit notes that the law presumes records are open and subject to disclosure.

“Although Wisconsin law strongly favors public access to government and court records, this presumption is not absolute. Wisconsin’s public records policy recognizes both the public interest in access to information regarding government matters and the existence of exceptional circumstances in which competing interests justify restricting disclosure. Wis. Stat. 19.31. Here, the constitutional protections afforded to the ANM under the law of “Marsy provides substantial countervailing interests which must be considered alongside general policy favoring public access,” he says.

Jacobs supported ANM’s position.

“Plaintiff joins ANM’s position and supports its request to protect her privacy, dignity, personal safety, emotional well-being and ability to safely participate in the criminal justice process. ANM is a crime victim seeking closure, not public attention. ANM is not publicly known by her identity and has deliberately avoided public discourse regarding the underlying incident. The release of materials that identify, describe, locate or disclose information sensitive matters regarding ANM would impose unwanted exposure on her and risk re-victimizing her through renewed public scrutiny,” the lawsuit states.

“Plaintiff requests that Defendant be enjoined from publicly disclosing information that directly or indirectly identifies, locates, depicts or reveals private or sensitive information regarding ANM. Redaction limited to names or faces would not adequately protect ANM. Additionally, with today’s advanced AI, the shape of his body and other clues to his identity in the video could lead to his identification,” it states.

Jacobs also expresses concerns about his personal safety and property.

“Public sports figures have been targeted for theft and property crimes. Public availability of the complainant’s schedule or travel information increases the risk that individuals could identify periods when the complainant is away from home and use the published information regarding the residence, garage, access points, security arrangements or property to target the property. Wide public dissemination of these details would significantly increase the complainant’s vulnerability to theft, burglary, trespass or other targeted criminal conduct,” the suit states.

The complaint lists a series of requests asking that the video and recordings not be released, but, if so, what steps should be taken to protect identities and personal information.

The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department has ten days to file a response to the lawsuit.

No hearing has been scheduled.