LaMelo Ball and the Charlotte Hornets are facing a lawsuit from Tamaria McRae, who claims that Ball drove over her 11-year-old son’s foot during a team event last October, as reported by WSOC-TV.
The alleged incident occurred at the Spectrum Center on October 7 during the Hornets’ Purple and Teal Day. Fans had gathered outside the arena, hoping to interact with the players as they left. McRae’s son, Angell Joseph, a dedicated fan of Ball, attempted to approach the NBA star for an autograph.
“[Angell] was like, ‘LaMelo, I love you. I love you, Sign my … give me your autograph. Can you sign it for me?'” McRae recounted to WSOC-TV.
According to McRae, Ball did not stop to sign autographs and drove away, during which time Joseph’s foot was allegedly run over. Initially, McRae thought her son had simply dropped something, but soon realized he was injured. Joseph’s broken foot required months to heal, and the young fan was devastated by the incident. WSOC-TV shared a photo of Joseph on crutches following the accident.
An 11-year-old was waiting outside the Spectrum Center after the Hornets’ Purple and Teal Day. He wanted an autograph from LaMelo Ball
His mom says Ball didn’t sign anything. He sped off in his car and drove over the 11-year-old’s foot, breaking it.
A lawsuit has been filed… pic.twitter.com/fsvnmQVRNV
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) May 21, 2024
The family’s attorney, Cameron DeBrun, explained that they sought to file a claim to cover Joseph’s medical expenses. However, complications arose due to the police report lacking Ball’s name or insurance details. “Because that information was not provided, we only have one recourse and that’s the court system,” DeBrun stated.
In addition to suing Ball, the family has included the Charlotte Hornets in the lawsuit, arguing that the team should have taken better measures to protect fans during the official event.
As of now, there have been no public comments from either LaMelo Ball or the Charlotte Hornets regarding the lawsuit.
Comments