Malone’s suit adds Harden as defendant
NBA star allegedly paid $20,000 to bouncer to coordinate assault
James Harden has been added as a defendant in a 2016 lawsuit filed by Moses Malone Jr., who alleges the Rockets star paid $20,000 to a nightclub bouncer to orchestrate an attack on Malone last June.
The amended lawsuit, which initially was filed last August by Malone, the son of the late Hall of Famer Moses Malone, adds Harden as a defendant along with VLIve@Vintage Steakhouse. That company owns V Live Houston, where Malone says he was attacked on June 25, 2016, two days after posting a Facebook message that was critical of Harden.
Attorney George Farah, who represents Malone, alleges Harden conspired with Darian Blount, one of four men charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, and that Blount “was acting on the orders of ” Harden when he and his associates attacked Malone.
Malone seeks more than $1 million in damages. The case is pending before state District Judge Mike Englehart.
The Rockets declined comment on the case.
A slight on Facebook
Farah said the lawsuit was amended to add Harden as a defendant based on documents, phone records and witness statements. He said he delayed in adding Harden to the suit during the NBA season out of respect to the Rockets.
“We didn’t want to file in the middle of the season with the Rockets making a playoff run,” the attorney said. “We’re not trying to hurt the organization or the city. We’re just trying to get some accountability from James Harden.”
Malone posted a Facebook post last June criticizing Harden for charging $249 for a basketball camp, a fee that Malone said was too expensive to allow some children to attend. According to the lawsuit, Harden’s bodyguard, identified as “Big Tony,” told a friend of Malone’s that Harden was upset by the comments.
Two days later, Malone said he was invited to V Live Houston, a strip club operated by VLIve@Vintage Steakhouse. When he arrived, he said he was attacked at about 2 a.m. by a group of armed men under Blount’s direction.
Malone said he was kicked in the face and struck in the face by weapons and that the attackers under Blount’s direction ripped Malone’s diamond earrings off his ears and stole several pieces of jewelry.
V Live security guards did not stop the attack and allowed the attackers to enter the nightclub, according to the suit. Harden was believed to be at the club the night of the attack, the suit added.
V Live is included as a defendant because Blount was acting as an employee of the company at the time of the attack, the suit said.
Farah said Malone has recovered from his physical injuries but does not feel safe living in Houston and continues to fear for his life because of threats he has received since the attack.
He said the $20,000 figure cited in the suit that Harden is alleged to have paid for the attack was based on interviews with witnesses.
It’s not about money
Malone was not available for comment Tuesday, but Farah said he had agreed to an interview with ABC News that will air later.
However, in an interview on “The Chop Shop” show on KMAZ (102.5 FM), Malone said of the lawsuit, “I’ve been told to step back or they’re going to put me next to my dad (who died in 2015).”
Malone said the men attacking him mentioned Harden and the Facebook post during the incident.
“The confrontation took about 45 seconds to a minute,” Malone told the radio station. “It was about James Harden and Facebook and him being upset. His name was brought up at least four times.”
Malone is upset people think he has ulterior motives for filing the lawsuit.
“I would not risk my name, I would not risk my dad’s legacy over this,” Malone said. “I do not need the money, let’s get that straight. Do you want to see my account?”
V Live has filed a general denial of the allegations in Malone’s lawsuit. It was unclear Tuesday if Harden had been served with the amended lawsuit adding him as a defendant and who would represent him in the case.