MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lawyers for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant can argue he acted in self-defense as part of a lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a teenager during a basketball game at the NBA star’s home, a judge ruled Thursday.
Circuit Court Judge Carol Chumney set a hearing for Dec. 11 where attorneys for Morant and 18-year-old Joshua Holloway will discuss whether Morant is immune from liability under Tennessee law for punching Holloway during a match at the home Memphis-area All-Star player in July 2022.
Morant’s attorneys have acknowledged that he punched Holloway once after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant and the ball hit Morant in the chin. In a July 26 motion, the player’s lawyers said he should be immune from liability under the state’s “stand your ground” law, which allows people who feel threatened at home to take violent action in certain situations .
The law is used in criminal cases, but Chumney’s ruling clears the way for Morant’s attorneys to apply it in the civil case and try to dismiss the lawsuit.
Morant’s accuser was 17 when the lawsuit was filed. It accuses Morant and boyfriend Davonte Pack of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress. An amended complaint identified the plaintiff as Holloway.
Morant filed a countersuit accusing Holloway of defamation, assault and battery. No criminal charges have been filed against Morant. Pack has been charged with assault and has a hearing scheduled for Nov. 21 in state criminal court.
The lawsuit has led to complicated legal arguments, including disagreement over whether the state’s “stand your ground” law can be used to support Morant.
Holloway’s attorney, Rebecca Adelman, has argued that the self-defense claim cannot be a reason to dismiss the civil case under state law, in part because there is no ongoing criminal investigation against Morant. She has argued that Holloway is entitled to a jury trial, which would not happen if the judge rules Morant is immune.
Adelman has said the self-defense and immunity arguments came too late in the trial. At a hearing in July, she called it a “Hail Mary of all Hail Marys.”
Will Perry, Morant’s attorney, has argued that there are ways to apply the “stand your ground” law in civil cases and that Morant is entitled to immunity. He said the motion was timely because the trial is not scheduled until April 2024.
Attorneys for Morant and Holloway did not comment to reporters after Thursday’s court hearing.
The NBA suspended Morant for the first 25 games this season after a video of him flashing a gun was posted online. The video of Morant showing a gun while sitting in the passenger seat of a car was posted after he served an eight-game suspension in March for a video of him showing a gun at a Denver-area strip club.
Morant apologized for both videos.