Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden is facing a civil lawsuit for alleged negligence tied to a sexual assault accusation against his nephew, Justice Armani Blackburn, following a New Year’s Eve party held at Harden’s mansion in Houston, Texas.
The lawsuit, filed in Harris County on June 23, 2025, by plaintiff Marisa Watley, claims that Blackburn raped her while she was unconscious inside Harden’s home, and that Harden’s personal security team failed to prevent or respond appropriately to the situation.
According to court documents, Watley and two friends arrived at the party after meeting Harden at a club earlier in the evening. Once at the residence, the group was directed to a recording studio within the home where they were offered drinks by Blackburn. Watley says she quickly passed out after consuming the beverage.
From there, her memory became “hazy,” and she recalls being “shocked into consciousness” during the assault, describing herself as being in a “dream-like” state and unable to fight back.
The lawsuit alleges that Harden’s security guards ejected Watley’s two friends from the property while she remained inside, unconscious and vulnerable.
After being locked out, the friends contacted Watley’s sister, who then reached out to Harden’s sister, Blackburn’s mother. A photo of Watley was sent to Harden’s security team, but the guards falsely claimed the woman inside the home was not her, according to the complaint.
Watley was eventually found hours later, visibly shaken and disoriented. Her attorneys say she now suffers from severe trauma and has developed a stutter as a result of the assault. They argue that Harden bears responsibility due to the inaction and alleged deceit by his security team.
The lawsuit names Harden, Blackburn, and multiple unnamed security guards, listed as “Security Guards 1–10”, along with their corporate employer, as defendants.
The plaintiff is seeking more than $100,000 in economic, compensatory, and punitive damages, along with a jury trial. Watley’s attorneys, including Michael Willemin and John Crain from Wigdor LLP, emphasized her courage in coming forward and expressed their intent to pursue justice through the civil court system.
Harden, an 11-time NBA All-Star and former league MVP, has not publicly responded to the allegations, and his legal team has declined to comment. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed against him, but the civil case continues to attract national attention.
The lawsuit casts a harsh spotlight not only on Harden’s private life but on broader concerns about accountability and safety at high-profile celebrity gatherings. Watley, in a public statement, said she hopes her experience compels security professionals to act more responsibly when women are clearly in danger.
