Memphis, Tenn. -A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a teenager who accused the twice of the NBA did Hit it for a duration of a collection game In the house of the parents of Grizzlies of Memphis in 2022.
Shelby County Circuit Judge, Carol Chumney, issued an order on Monday by dismissing the lawsuit, saying in her ruling that Morant acted in self -defense and was immune to civil liability in the lawsuit filed by Joshua Holloway, who plays basketball for the University of Samford and has just completed her second season.
Holloway was 17 years old and in high school when he was invited to play basketball with other people at Morant’s parents in July 2022.
The one -day games series ended when Morant hit Holloway once on the face. Holloway then Sed Morant, claiming that the NBA player had assaulted him.
Morant said he acted in self -defense after Holloway aggressively threw the basketball with a baseball style pass with a hand that hit him in the face facing a check situation.
A “check” is a common practice in the collection games in which two opposite players pass the ball to each other to see if their teammates are ready, or before starting a game or after a foul.
Morant testified a duration of December 2023 that was worried about being injured after the teenager hit him in the face with the ball, hit him on the chest, put his fists and got into a struggle posture before Morant hit Humthoway.
Chumney ruled in April 2024 that Morant “Enjoy a presumption of civil immunity” Of responsibility under the law of Tennessee.
The NBA player’s lawyers had argued that Morant was protected by the “Stand Your Ground” law of Tennessee, allowing people who feel threatened in their homes to act strongly in certain situations. The law is used in criminal cases, but the judge cleared the way for Morant lawyers to apply in this civil case.
After the failure of the presumption of immunity of April 2024, it was Holloway’s turn to demonstrate that Morant was not free of responsibility under the claim for self -defense.
Holloway testified during a audience last January that Morant was actually the aggressor and used a disported force when hitting Holloway.
In Heray’s ruling, Chumney said Holloway’s testimony about the incident was not credible and contradicts the testimony of other witnesses. Among them was the former NBA player Mike Miller, who was at home when the fight occurred. Miller testified that Holloway hit Morant “on his face with a Starty Eventhing Basketball boy,” the judge wrote in the ruling in Hijd 2024.
Chumney also pointed out in Monday’s decision that both Morant and Holloway have papers and leaders in the respective basketball sands, “and in the center of attention, each one has unique opportunities to inspire young people and demonstrate a mature leadership.”
“This court sincerely expects to move forward, more than their time in the” Court “and less in the” Palace of Justice, “the judge wrote.
