Memphis, Tennessee – A judge dismisses a lawsuit filed by a teenager who accused two NBA All-Star JA Morant Punch him during a pickup game At the home of the Memphis Grizzlies Guard parents in 2022.
Shelby County Circuit Judge Carol Schumny issued an order to dismiss the case Monday, saying Morant was spared civil liability for the case filed by Joshua Holloway, who acted in self-defense, played basketball at Samford University and completed his sophomore season.
Holloway was 17 years old and was in high school when he was invited to play pick-up basketball with others at Morant’s parents’ home in July 2022.
The series of games ended when Morant punched Holloway in the face once. Holloway then sued Morant, claiming that an NBA player had assaulted him.
Morant claimed he acted in self-defense after Holloway aggressively threw a basketball at him with a baseball-style pass with one hand that hit him in the face in a checkball situation.
“Check” is a common practice in pickup games, where two opposing players often pass the ball to each other to see if their teammates are ready.
Morant testified in December 2023 when he heard that he was worried about getting injured after a teenager smacking his face with a ball, hitting his chest, smacking his fist and taking a fight before punching Holloway.
Chumney ruled it in April 2024 Morant: “Enjoying the presumption of civil immunity” From liability under Tennessee law.
The NBA player lawyers had alleged that Morant was protected under Tennessee’s “Stay on Your Ground” law. The law is used in criminal cases, but the judge cleared the way for Morant’s lawyers to apply it in this civil case.
After the presumption of the April 2024 exemption award, it was Holloway’s turn to prove that Morant was not liable under the Self-Defense Claims.
Holloway testified at this January hearing that Morant was actually an invader and used disproportionate forces by punching Holloway.
In her ruling Monday, Chumney said Holloway’s testimony in the case was unreliable and contradicted the testimony from other witnesses. Among them was former NBA player Mike Miller, who was at home when the fight happened. Miller testified that Holloway “had started everything” by meeting Morant “face at basketball,” the judge wrote in his April 2024 ruling.
Chumney also said in Monday’s ruling that both Morant and Holloway are playing the roles of their respective basketball arenas.
“This court sincerely hopes that each of them will be able to spend more time on the ‘court’ by moving forward,” the judge wrote.
