A judge in Shelby County Court Circuit has ruled in favor of NBA All-Star Ja Morant in a self-defense case stemming from an incident during a pickup basketball game in 2022. The judge cited Tennessee law on self-defense and granted Morant civil immunity, stating that he acted in self-defense.
The ruling highlighted that the plaintiff, Joshua Holloway, was the provocateur in the situation, as evidence showed he initiated the altercation by hitting Morant in the face with a basketball. Testimony from witnesses, including former NBA player Mike Miller, supported Morant's claim that he was defending himself after being aggressively targeted by Holloway.
The lawsuit, filed by Holloway, accused Morant of assaulting him during the pickup game at Morant's family home. Morant, who was 24 at the time of the incident, testified that he felt threatened when Holloway bumped him in the chest and assumed a fighting stance before Morant punched him.
Morant's childhood friend, Davonte Pack, also a defendant in the lawsuit, admitted to punching Holloway once. However, Morant was not criminally charged in the incident, and Pack's misdemeanor assault charge was later dismissed.
The court hearing focused on Morant's motion to dismiss the lawsuit under Tennessee's stand your ground law, which allows individuals to act with force when feeling threatened in their homes. The judge's ruling noted that Holloway had been allowed inside the Morant home for recreational activities.
Following the legal proceedings, Morant suffered a season-ending injury to his right shoulder in early January, requiring surgery. This injury added to a challenging season for Morant, who had previously faced suspensions from the NBA for unrelated incidents involving the display of a handgun.
Ja Morant expressed regret for the incidents involving the handgun and apologized for his actions. The ruling in the self-defense case provides clarity on the legal outcome of the pickup game altercation, affirming Morant's right to defend himself in the situation.
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