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A Tennessee judge has ruled that Ja Morant acted in self defense when the Grizzlies star punched a teenager at his Memphis mansion in July of 2022, according to multiple reports.
Shelby County Circuit Court Judge Carol Chumney’s decision comes nearly four months after Morant’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the civil lawsuit under Tennessee’s so-called ground law. Morant testified in December that he ‘swung first’ at then-17-year-old Joshua Holloway, but only to ‘protect myself’ during the altercation.
Holloway allegedly became frustrated during a pickup basketball game at Morant’s home and subsequently threw the ball of the NBA All-Star’s face, according to previous filings. Morant allegedly responded by stepping forward to punch Holloway, who was also hit by Morant’s friend, Davonte Pack.
Pack was later arrested for misdemeanor ᴀssault, although that charge has since been dropped.
In her decision, Chumney ruled that Morant ‘enjoys a presumption of civil immunity’ under Tennessee’s stand-your-ground law, meaning that it was up to Holloway and his legal team to prove that the NBA star did not act in self defense.
Morant successfully convinced a Tennessee judge that he was acting in self-defense in 2022
Joshua Holloway says Morant punched him during a 2022 pickup game when he was just 17
The trial had been scheduled for late April, but is now expected to begin at a later date, ESPN reported.
‘We’re disappointed, and we will continue to take the steps necessary to protect and advocate for Joshua,’ Rebecca Adelman, Holloway’s attorney, told ESPN.
Morant filed a countersuit accusing Holloway of slander, battery and ᴀssault.
No criminal charges have been filed against Morant.
Holloway, who has committed to playing college basketball at Samford, discussed the countersuits with Memphis’ WREG in April of 2023.
‘When stuff comes out, I really try to ignore it because I know everybody has their opinion so I just try to stay within myself,’ Holloway said.
‘I’m not intimidated by anything. I trust God, God has my back. I have nothing to worry about. I’m still going to reach my goal no matter what.’
The incident allegedly took place during a pick up game at Morant’s mansion outside Memphis
The alleged ᴀssault was the first of several issues for Morant in 2022-23.
The NBA suspended Morant for the first 25 games of this season after a second video of him flashing a handgun was posted online. The video of Morant showing a gun while sitting in the pᴀssenger seat of a car was posted after he finished serving an eight-game suspension in March for a video in which he flashed a handgun in a Denver-area strip club.
Previously Morant was seen in footage from a strip club flashing a gun and was subsequently suspended six games during the 2022-23 season.
Morant apologized for both videos.
Although he made a strong return for the Grizzlies this year, Morant underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in January.
