James Harden has been accused of negligence in a civil complaint filed in Harris County, Texas that says the Los Angeles Clippers guard is “vicariously liable for the actions of his [security] guards and their corporate employer.”
According to The Athletic, the complaint against Harden also includes allegations of sexual assault against the Clippers’ guard’s nephew, Justin Armani Blackburn.
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The basis of the complaint comes from an alleged incident that happened at Harden’s Houston home during a New Year’s party. Marisa Watley, the plaintiff, alleges that Blackburn raped her while she was unconscious. Watley, who is demanding a jury trial and economic, compensatory and punitive damages, also alleges that Harden’s security staff were negligent.
Per the lawsuit, Watley and two of her friends attended the New Year’s party after being out at a Houston strip club. When the three women learned about the party at Harden’s home, they took an Uber there before being invited into Harden’s “studio.” It was there that Blackburn allegedly offered them a drink from a bottle before the three passed out.
Watley claims her memory then became “extremely hazy” and was “shocked into consciousness” while she was being assaulted, during which she was “in a dream-like state” and “not fully awake.”
The two women who accompanied Watley to the party were later removed by Harden’s security team, leaving Watley still inside. The women got into contact with Watley’s sister, who managed to get in touch with Harden’s sister, the mother of Blackburn. The sister sent a photo of Watley to Harden’s security team who, according to the complaint, told her that the woman inside the home was not Watley.
“Since New Year’s Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden’s security behaved that day — it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time,” said Watley in a statement released. “I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger.”
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Representatives of Harden’s declined comment when reached by The Athletic.
Harden, 35, played the past two seasons with the Clippers. He played for the Houston Rockets from 2012-2021. He is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent this summer should he choose to opt out of his current contract.
