CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – The Charlotte Hornets and LaMelo Ball are both facing a lawsuit after a woman says the point guard drove over her 11-year-old’s foot and broke it.
According to court documents, the incident allegedly happened on October 7, 2023.
The plaintiff, Tamaria McRae, claims her son Angell Joseph was standing outside of the Caldwell Street side of the Spectrum Center after a game hoping to get autographs. She says Ball pulled out of the parking lot and was immediately stopped by a stoplight. That’s when Angell approached the purple Rolls Royce driven by Ball. Ball then allegedly made eye contact with the boy before operating the vehicle in a “grossly negligent and reckless manner.”
Mcrae says in the process Ball ran over her son’s foot, breaking it. This suit also accuses the Hornets of negligence. It says the organization “failed to provide adequate security and pedestrian control measures in the Spectrum Center employee exit, which is the area where the players exit the Spectrum Center parking lot in their vehicles.”
The suit also claims employees were improperly trained in managing safety. Mcrae says as a result of the broken foot, both she and her son have suffered emotional damage. She references several nights when he couldn’t sleep due to nightmares. She also claims she lost income while taking care of her son.
Mcrae and her son are seeking $25,000 each from Ball and the Hornets organization.