James Harden Sued Over Houston Assault Case

James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers guard, is being sued for negligence after Marisa Watley alleged she was sexually assaulted by his nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, while unconscious during a New Year's Eve 2024 party at Harden's Houston mansion. The lawsuit, filed in Harris County, Texas, claims Harden's security team failed to protect Watley and acted negligently by removing her friends from the property while denying she was inside, despite evidence and attempts by her friends and family to alert them. Watley asserts Harden is vicariously liable for his security staff's actions and is seeking economic, compensatory, and punitive damages, along with a jury trial. Neither Harden nor Blackburn has publicly responded to the allegations. The case raises broader concerns about the responsibility of hosts and their security teams at private events. The legal proceedings are ongoing.