MEMPHIS, Tennessee –

The future of a lawsuit accusing Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant of assaulting a teen during a basketball game hinges on whether Morant can say he acted in self-defense and be granted immunity under Tennessee law.

A judge ruled on Wednesday that Morant’s attorneys can provisionally proceed with their argument that Morant acted in self-defense when he punched Joshua Holloway during a game at the All-Star player’s Memphis-area home in July 2022.

Morant’s lawyers have acknowledged that he punched Holloway once after Holloway threw a basketball at Morant and the ball hit Morant in the chin. In a July 26 motion, the player’s attorneys said he should be immune from liability under the state’s “stand your ground” law, which allows people who feel threatened at home to act violently in certain situations.

Circuit Court Judge Carol Chumney said the next step would be to hear from attorneys in the case, including those representing the Tennessee attorney general, about whether the law can be applied to the case under the state constitution.

Morant’s accuser was 17 when the lawsuit was filed. It charges Morant and friend Davonte Pack with assault, reckless endangerment, abuse or neglect and inflicting emotional distress. An amended complaint identified the plaintiff as Holloway, who is now 18.

Morant filed a countersuit accusing Holloway of defamation, battery and assault.

No criminal charges have been filed against Morant.

The lawsuit has led to complicated legal arguments, including disagreement over whether the state’s “stand your ground” law can be used to support Morant.

At a hearing Monday, Holloway’s attorney, Rebecca Adelman, argued that Morant has waived his claim to immunity and that the self-defense claim cannot be grounds under state law to dismiss the civil case, in part because there is no ongoing criminal investigation against Morant walks. .

Adelman said the self-defense and immunity arguments came too late in the trial. She called it a “Hail Mary of Hail Marys”.

Will Perry, Morant’s attorney, argued that there are ways to apply the “stand your ground” law in civil cases and that Morant is entitled to immunity. He said the motion was timely as the trial is not scheduled until 2024.

Out of court on Wednesday, Adelman told reporters she was disappointed in the judge’s decision to proceed with the immunity claim, but was pleased that the court is allowing arguments about the constitutional challenge of applying the law in the case.

“These are … very important issues for everyone,” Adelman said.

Chumney, the judge, has stayed the case, meaning depositions, subpoenas, exchange of evidence and other steps in the trial are suspended. She organized a hearing on October 12 on the matter.

The NBA suspended Morant for 25 games when the upcoming season begins after a second video was posted online of him flashing a gun. The video of Morant showing a gun while in the passenger seat of a car was posted after he served an eight-game suspension in March for a video of him flashing a gun at a strip club near Denver.

Morant apologized for both videos.

On Monday – a year after the pick-up game at Morant’s home in Eads – authorities issued an arrest warrant against Pack on misdemeanor charges in connection with the fight.