A North Carolina mother, Tamaira McRae, has filed a lawsuit against Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and the team after her 11-year-old son, Angell Joseph, had his foot allegedly run over by Ball’s car at a fan event last fall at the Spectrum Center. McRae stated that Joseph had approached Ball for an autograph as fans were interacting with players leaving the arena. However, Ball did not sign anything for Joseph and instead suddenly accelerated his vehicle, running over Joseph’s foot and breaking it. The injury had a significant impact on both McRae and her son, leading to a difficult recovery process.
McRae and Joseph’s attorney, Cameron DeBrun, noted that they would have filed a claim with Ball’s insurance, but the police report from the incident was missing crucial information, prompting them to pursue the lawsuit. The Hornets were also included in the lawsuit as the incident occurred during their annual “Purple and Teal Day” event. The lawsuit alleged that Ball was negligent in operating his vehicle without proper control, failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, and not applying his brakes in time to avoid the incident. Additionally, it claimed that the Hornets did not provide adequate security and pedestrian control measures at the event.
Despite the legal action, Ball had a successful season with the Hornets, averaging a career-high 23.9 points and eight assists per game in the 22 games he appeared in due to an ankle injury. He is set to enter the first year of a lucrative five-year, $204 million contract extension with the team this fall. The lawsuit, filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court, highlights the alleged negligence and lack of proper safety measures that led to the injury sustained by Joseph during the fan event.
McRae expressed the emotional toll of witnessing her child in pain and the challenges they faced during the recovery process. She described the impact on Joseph’s ability to play and engage in outdoor activities, leading to feelings of depression and a significant strain on their lives. The lawsuit aims to hold Ball and the Hornets accountable for the incident and the resulting consequences, seeking financial compensation for the damages incurred by Joseph and his family.
The lawsuit sets forth the specific allegations against Ball and the Hornets, citing their failure to ensure the safety of pedestrians and maintain control of the vehicle during the fan event. It highlights the responsibility of both the individual and the organization in preventing such incidents and the importance of implementing proper security measures to protect attendees. The legal proceedings will address the claims made by McRae and Joseph, seeking justice and accountability for the harm caused by the alleged negligence displayed during the event.
