Ja Morant’s lawyers ‘file motion to dismiss civil suit, citing self-defense’ when punching teenager

Ja Morant’s attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the civil suit between the NBA star and a teenage basketball player, Josh Holloway, who has accused Morant of assaulting him.

The motion, filed Monday, contends Morant acted in self-defense when he punched then-17-year-old Holloway — citing Tennessee’s self-defense laws, per Memphis’ Commercial Appeal. 

‘Morant acted in self-defense when [Holloway] intentionally struck him in the face with a basketball at Mr. Morant’s family home last July,’ the motion to dismiss read, via The Appeal. ‘He therefore enjoys civil immunity under the Statute.’

The incident allegedly occurred at Morant’s house when Josh Holloway, a high-school basketball player, said Morant attacked him after he checked the ball to the NBA player and it hit him in the face after slipping through his hands. 

Holloway’s mother sued Morant on her son’s behalf, saying Morant and his friends repeatedly punched him in the head and face – even while he was on the ground, as previously reported by The Washington Post and TMZ. The case was eventually sealed by the court.

Ja Morant’s attorneys reportedly filed a motion for dismissal of a civil lawsuit against the star

The incident allegedly took place during a pick up game at Morant’s mansion outside Memphis

With regard to Monday’s motion the Memphis outlet reported Morant’s attorneys argued he threw a punch at Holloway ‘only to the extent necessary to protect himself from further harm’, adding it was a singular blow ‘and not hard enough even to knock him down.’

A countersuit made by Morant’s lawyers – filed in April – claims he acted in self-defense and alleges that Holloway, ‘intentionally’ threw a basketball at his face, which could have been ‘career-ending’ for the point guard and then, ‘balled up his fists and walked aggressively toward Morant as if to attack him.’

The countersuit also claims that the teen threatened to return to Morant’s house and ‘light it up like a firework show.’

These aspects of the civil case will reportedly be paused until a hearing is heard – within 40 days from Monday. Morant’s attorneys are seeking ‘an award of attorney fees, costs, lost income and expenses.’ 

The 18-year-old Holloway, who was age 17 at the time of the incident, told the Washington Post in an April article that Morant and his friend Davonte Pack (who was also named in the initial lawsuit), ‘haven’t taken accountability for their actions. I don’t think you should be jumping a kid over a basketball game, regardless of any situation that should happen.’

Holloway’s mother also pushed for Morant to be criminally charged, but the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office didn’t pursue anything citing a lack of evidence, according to The Post. It is alleged 

The countersuit alleges  Holloway later, ‘lied to police about Morant flashing a gun.’ 

Holloway also allegedly, ‘violated a court order by leaking details of a sealed case to the media,’ according to the suit. That leak allegedly cost Morant money by hurting his chances to make an All-NBA team this season.

The 23-year-old Morant was hit with the 25-game ban earlier this month after two incidents in as many months of him appearing to brandish a gun on camera. First, he filmed himself holding a pistol in a Denver strip club and later was filmed holding what appeared to be a weapon in a car with a friend. 

Morant later posted footage claiming that the alleged gun in the second video was fake and instead a lighter. In both instances, Morant was not charged with a crime, following police investigations.