June 24, 2025
His nephew is being accused of sexual assault throughout a celebration that passed off at his Texas house
In a sexual assault lawsuit filed towards his nephew, Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden is being sued for negligence, allegedly as a consequence of how his safety workforce dealt with the state of affairs on the NBA participant’s home.
In accordance with a information launch by the alleged sufferer’s attorneys, Wigdor LLP and Ellwanger Henderson, Marisa Watley has accused Harden’s nephew of sexually assaulting her at a New Yr’s Eve get together that passed off on the basketball participant’s Houston residence in 2024. She can be suing the Clippers guard for negligence in the identical lawsuit.
Watley has alleged that Justice Armani Blackburn, Harden’s nephew, sexually assaulted her throughout that get together when she was unconscious on the mansion. The authorized paperwork was filed June 23 in Harris County, Texas.
“Ms. Watley has proven nice energy and braveness in coming ahead to carry Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden accountable for what occurred to her on New Yr’s Day 2025 in Mr. Harden’s mansion,” mentioned Michael J. Willemin and John S. Crain (of Wigdor LLP) and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts (of Ellwanger Henderson) in a written assertion.
“This rape was instantly reported to the police, and we are going to carry Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice by means of the civil justice system.”
The plaintiff has acknowledged that Harden’s safety workforce had eliminated two of Watley’s associates, who have been on the get together together with her. After being kicked out, they insisted that Watley was nonetheless inside. After they contacted Elaina Watley, the alleged sufferer’s sister, in order that she may communicate to somebody about it, she despatched a photograph of Marisa to confirm that she was nonetheless within the mansion.
Safety instructed Elaina that somebody was with Blackburn, however it wasn’t Marisa. But, within the lawsuit, Marisa is saying that the girl they declare wasn’t her was her, and if that they had acted responsibly once they have been contacted, the alleged assault wouldn’t have taken place.
“Since New Yr’s Day, once I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I’ve remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden’s safety behaved that day—it’s painful to think about that this all may have been stopped in time, mentioned Marisa. I hope this criticism pushes safety workers usually to behave extra responsibly when girls are at risk.”
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