The Hornets claim they have no control over Ball or the “public streets in Mecklenburg County.”
CHARLOTTE, N.C. β TheΒ Charlotte Hornets are hoping to be removed from a lawsuit against star player LaMelo Ball.
A woman claimed in a May 2024 lawsuit filing that LaMelo Ball ran over her son’s foot in October 2023 after a Purple and Teal Day at the Hive event at the Spectrum Center. She sued Ball and the Hornets for the incident. The case hasn’t moved much since it was filed but now the Hornets are seeking to be dismissed from the case.
The Hornets claim they have no control over Ball or the “public streets in Mecklenburg County.” The team’s filing was made on Jan. 17.
Ball’s only filings in the case have been time extension requests to formally respond. The next court date is March 11 to hear the Hornets’ dismissal request.
The Hornets and Ball have not released any statements publically about this incident.
As Ball drove off from the event in October 2023, fans swarmed his car as he stopped at a traffic light on North Caldwell Street, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiff’s son was among the people who surrounded Ball’s car.
Ball drove off from the area soon after. The lawsuit states he did so in a “grossly negligent and reckless manner.” In doing so, the plaintiff’s son was hit by Ball’s car.
Attorney Gary Mauney explained why the franchise could be liable.Β
“If you own or control premises, you have a duty of reasonable care to the people that come onto your property,” Mauney told WCNC Charlotte. “And part of reasonable care is at the facility where the players play, everybody knows where the teams leave on the back half of the building. The team, if they control that area, would be reasonable for using reasonable care. “
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police DepartmentΒ did not release any information about this incident when it happened. A WCNC Charlotte request for an incident report was not returned.
The child was severely injured by the incident, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiff claims she has suffered financial and emotional distress because of the incident. The plaintiff is seeking at least $25,000 each for her and her son.
