James Harden has found himself in a bit of a mess at the moment. The Clippers’ star was supposed to be enjoying his offseason. Instead, he is facing negligence charges in a sexual assault case. Recently, a woman accused Harden’s nephew of sexually assaulting her during the New Year’s Eve party back in 2024. And the location? Well, it was allegedly inside James Harden’s mansion.
As per the reports, the plaintiff, Marisa Watley is pretty much disturbed with how the guards behaved that night. Watley accused Harden of negligence about the conduct of his guards. She pointed out that the unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the guards were more responsible and acted on time.
Thus, the lawsuit states that Harden is “vicariously liable for the actions of his guards and their corporate employer.”
Realtor Marisa Watley Suing James Harden For Negligence After Accusing His Nephew of Assaulting Her at NYE Party; Read The Full Court Docs Along With Statements From Ms. Watley and Her Attorneys to BSO (Lawsuit) https://t.co/SLITdaUDzj pic.twitter.com/JCK1itPSuY
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) June 24, 2025
Watley further said in her statement that the behaviour of Harden’s security on the night was puzzling. She also expressed her pain about how all of these could have been prevented. Watley has accused Harden’s nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, of sexually assaulting her while she was unconscious.
Marisa Watley’s Attorneys Hold James Harden Accountable
In her statement, Watley detailed a larger implication of her complaint. She wanted more and more security personnel to be alert and act more promptly when a woman was in danger. Meanwhile, the attorneys of Watley have vowed to bring justice to the case. They are also looking to hold James Harden accountable in the case.
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“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. This rape was immediately reported to the police, and we will bring Mr. Blackburn and Mr. Harden to justice through the civil justice system,” said Watley’s attorneys.
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 Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) June 24, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/eePZSF4HEB
Thus, with things looking serious, it remains to be seen what happens next.
Also Read: VIDEO: James Harden Has A Savage Response To Fan Yelling “Win A Championship!” Goes Viral
