Ja Morant’s Lawyers Say He Acted in Self-Defense After Reportedly Punching a Teenager In A Pick-Up Game

A recent lawsuit involving Ja Morant, the prominent player of the Memphis Grizzlies, has taken an intriguing turn as his legal team asserts self-defense and seeks immunity under Tennessee law. The case revolves around an incident during a pickup basketball game that occurred in July 2022 at Morant's residence in the Memphis area.

In a recent ruling, a judge granted Morant's lawyers the opportunity to argue his actions as self-defense when he punched Joshua Holloway. According to Morant's legal team, Holloway had thrown a basketball at Morant, which struck him in the chin. Acknowledging that Morant threw a single punch in response, his lawyers contend that he should be shielded from liability under the state's "stand your ground" law. This law permits individuals to employ force in certain situations if they feel threatened within their own homes.

The next phase of the legal proceedings will involve hearings from both parties, including representation from the Tennessee attorney general, to determine the applicability of the "stand your ground" law under the state Constitution.

Holloway, who was 17 at the time the lawsuit was filed, accused Morant and his friend Davonte Pack of assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect, and infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiff's identity was amended in an updated complaint to reflect Holloway, who is now 18.

In response, Morant filed a countersuit, accusing Holloway of slander, battery, and assault. Notably, no criminal charges have been filed against Morant in relation to this incident.

The legal arguments surrounding this lawsuit have grown complex, with disagreement arising over the application of the state's "stand your ground" law to Morant's defense.

During a recent hearing, Holloway's lawyer, Rebecca Adelman, asserted that Morant had waived his claim to immunity and that self-defense, as per the state law, cannot be grounds for dismissing the civil case, particularly since there is no ongoing criminal investigation involving Morant.

Adelman deemed the self-defense and immunity arguments as belated attempts, referring to them as a desperate move. In contrast, Morant's lawyer, Will Perry, argued that the "stand your ground" law can indeed be applicable to civil cases and maintained Morant's entitlement to immunity. Perry emphasized that the motion was timely, considering the trial is scheduled for 2024.

Following the judge's decision, which allows the immunity claim to proceed, a stay has been imposed on the case. Consequently, depositions, evidence exchanges, and other lawsuit-related procedures have been put on hold. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for October 12.

In a separate development, the NBA has imposed a 25-game suspension on Morant for the upcoming season, following the emergence of a second video in which he brandished a handgun. This video surfaced after Morant had already served an eight-game suspension in March for a similar incident at a strip club in the Denver area. Morant has publicly apologized for both videos.

Furthermore, authorities issued an arrest warrant for Pack, charging him with misdemeanor assault in connection with the altercation, exactly one year after the pickup game at Morant's residence in Eads.