NBA star James Harden sued for alleged negligence in sexual assault case
Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden has been accused of negligence in a civil complaint filed in Harris County, Texas, that also includes allegations of sexual assault against Harden's nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn.
The complaint, which was filed on Monday, derives from actions that are alleged to have occurred at Harden's New Year's party at his home in Houston, Texas. The plaintiff, Marisa Watley, alleges that Blackburn raped her at the party while she was unconcious. Watley also alleges negligence against Harden due to the conduct of his in-home security staff on the morning of New Year's Day.
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The lawsuit, which was obtained by The Athletic, was filed with the Harris County District Clerk. Watley demands a jury trial and economic, compensatory and punitive damages, according to the lawsuit. Harden's representatives declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by The Athletic on Monday.
The lawsuit says that Harden is 'vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer,' who were also named defendants in the case.
Watley and two of her friends, listed as witnesses with the pseudonyms of Jane and Emily in the complaint, attended the New Year's party after a night out at a gentleman's club in Houston, according to the lawsuit. Upon learning of an after-party at Harden's residence, Watley and her friends took an Uber to the home. The three women were invited into Harden's 'studio' upon arrival, according to the suit, where Blackburn approached them and offered them a drink from a bottle. They subsequently passed out.
Watley's memory then became 'extremely hazy,' and she recalls Blackburn urgently wanting her to join him somewhere. Watley next remembers being 'shocked into consciousness' during the assault, during which she was 'in a dream-like state' and 'not fully awake,' according to the complaint.
Watley says her friends were later removed by Harden's security, though Watley was still inside the residence. The friends then contacted Watley's sister, who then, through a friend, contacted Harden's sister, who is the mother of Blackburn. The lawsuit says the sister submitted a photo of Watley to Harden's security, who, according to the complaint, then lied and said the woman inside the house was not Watley.
After being escorted out of the mansion and denied in their efforts to get back inside and look for their friend, Jane and Emily saw Harden driving out through the gates. The complaint alleges that shortly before Harden's exit, there were at least three women passed out in plain sight within the house, with Watley passed out in a bedroom. It also alleges that an additional group of women was ejected from the home about the time Harden left.
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'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,' Watley said in a statement. 'I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger.'
'Ms. Watley has shown great strength and courage in coming forward to hold Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden accountable for what happened to her on New Year's Day 2025 in Mr. Harden's mansion,' Watley's attorney's Michael J. Willemin and John S. Crain, of Wigdor LLP, and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts, of Ellwanger Henderson, said in a statement. 'This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system.'
Harden, 35, is an 11-time All-Star who just finished his second season with the Clippers.
The Athletic's Law Murray contributed to this story.
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