A North Carolina mother has initiated legal action against Charlotte Hornets player LaMelo Ball and the team following an incident at a fan event last fall. According to WSOC-TV, Tamaira McRae has filed a lawsuit alleging that Ball ran over her 11-year-old son’s foot with his car.
The incident reportedly occurred during a Hornets fan event at the Spectrum Center in October. As attendees were dispersing, fans approached players leaving the arena. McRae’s son, Angell Joseph, approached Ball to request an autograph but was allegedly met with an unexpected acceleration of Ball’s vehicle, resulting in the injury.
McRae described the aftermath as challenging, highlighting the emotional toll on both her and her son. Their attorney, Cameron DeBrun, indicated that attempts to resolve the matter through Ball’s insurance were hindered by incomplete information in the police report, prompting the decision to pursue legal action. The lawsuit also involves the Hornets organization, as the incident transpired during their annual “Purple and Teal Day” event.
Legal documents assert that Ball operated his vehicle negligently, failing to maintain control and yield to pedestrians, while the Hornets purportedly lacked sufficient security and pedestrian control measures at the event’s venue. The lawsuit was filed in Mecklenburg County Superior Court.
Despite the legal developments, Ball’s on-court performance remains notable. Despite appearing in only 22 games last season due to injury, he achieved career-high averages of 23.9 points and eight assists per game. Ball is set to embark on the first year of a substantial five-year, $204 million contract extension with the Hornets.
