Realtor Marisa Watley Suing James Harden For Negligence After Accusing His Nephew of Assaulting Her at NYE Party
On June 23, 2025, Wigdor LLP, in collaboration with Ellwanger Henderson LLLP, filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, on behalf of plaintiff Marisa Watley. The complaint names NBA superstar James Harden, his nephew Justice Armani Blackburn, John Doe Security Guards 1-10, and the Doe Corporate Employer of the security guards […] The post Realtor Marisa Watley Suing James Harden For Negligence After Accusing His Nephew of Assaulting Her at NYE Party appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.
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On June 23, 2025, Wigdor LLP, in collaboration with Ellwanger Henderson LLLP, filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, on behalf of plaintiff Marisa Watley. The complaint names NBA superstar James Harden, his nephew Justice Armani Blackburn, John Doe Security Guards 1-10, and the Doe Corporate Employer of the security guards as defendants. The lawsuit alleges sexual assault by Blackburn and negligence by Harden, his security team, and their corporate employer, stemming from an incident at Harden’s Houston mansion following a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2024.
Details of the Allegations
According to the complaint, Marisa Watley, a 40-year-old real estate agent, attended a New Year’s Eve party at a Houston club called Polekatz, where she and her friends, referred to pseudonymously as Jane and Emily, encountered James Harden in the VIP section. They later learned of an after-party at Harden’s mansion and arrived there via Uber around 3:30 a.m. on January 1, 2025. At the mansion, security guards checked identifications and instructed guests to leave phones in their vehicles, which Watley could not do as she had no car.
In the mansion’s recording studio, Watley met Justice Armani Blackburn, Harden’s nephew, who offered her and her friends a drink from a bottle of liquor. After consuming the drink, Watley’s memory became hazy, and she experienced difficulty speaking and staying conscious. The complaint alleges that Blackburn, aware of Watley’s vulnerable state, urged her to follow him and subsequently raped her in a bedroom while she was semi-conscious. Watley recalls waking to the assault, repeatedly saying “no,” and Blackburn demanding to know if she was on birth control.
Watley alleges that a security guard entered the room post-assault, ordered her to leave, and escorted her out of the mansion despite her protests about losing her phone. Disoriented and traumatized, she sought help from a neighbor, who assisted her in contacting her sister, Elaina. Watley later learned that her friends Jane and Emily had been searching for her for hours, having recovered her phone and alerted her sister after being forcibly removed from the mansion by security.
Negligence Claims Against Harden and Security
The lawsuit claims that Harden’s security team was negligent in failing to protect Watley despite clear warning signs. Jane and Emily, who also lost consciousness after drinking from Blackburn’s bottle, informed security guards that Watley was missing and that her phone was still in the mansion. The guards allegedly lied, claiming no women remained in the house, even though a woman was visibly passed out in the studio and Watley was elsewhere in the mansion. The complaint further alleges that the guards delayed rescue efforts, including lying to Harden’s sister, Amique Jelks, about Watley’s presence after being provided a photo for identification.
The plaintiff asserts that the security team’s actions—or lack thereof—enabled the assault. The guards were aware of multiple intoxicated women in the mansion, including one passed out in plain sight, and knew of Blackburn’s history of threatening and violent behavior, including a prior conviction for criminal trespassing involving threatening conduct toward a woman while intoxicated. The lawsuit accuses Harden of vicarious liability for his security team’s negligence, negligent rescue, and negligent supervision, alleging that their failure to act promptly allowed Blackburn to assault Watley.
Legal Claims and Relief Sought
The complaint outlines several causes of action:
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Sexual Assault against Justice Armani Blackburn for intentionally making offensive physical contact with Watley, knowing she would find it harmful.
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Negligence against Harden, the security guards, and their corporate employer for failing to protect Watley from a foreseeable danger.
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Negligent Rescue against the same defendants, alleging their delays and misrepresentations hindered Watley’s rescue and may have prompted Blackburn to hasten the assault.
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Negligent Supervision against Harden and the corporate employer for failing to properly supervise the security team, creating a foreseeable risk of sexual assault.
Watley seeks economic, compensatory, and punitive damages, as well as injunctive relief, with the amount to be determined at trial. The case is set for a jury trial under Discovery Level 3, as the monetary relief exceeds $100,000.
Impact on the Plaintiff
Watley visited an emergency room on January 1, 2025, and has since struggled with severe trauma, including a heavy stutter. She is currently seeking therapy and psychiatric help, with the complaint stating she will suffer lifelong consequences from the assault.
Wigdor LLP’s Involvement
Wigdor LLP, known for handling high-profile sexual assault and employment litigation, is representing Watley alongside Ellwanger Henderson LLLP. The firm has a history of securing over $1.5 billion for clients in similar cases, including against figures like Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Attorneys Michael J. Willemin and John S. Crain from Wigdor LLP, along with Jay D. Ellwanger and David Henderson from Ellwanger Henderson, are leading the case.
Ms. Watley and her attorneys released this statement to BSO.
“Since New Year’s Day, when I reported the rape by Mr. Blackburn to the police, I have remained puzzled by how Mr. Harden’s security behaved that day—it is painful to imagine that this all could have been stopped in time. I hope this complaint pushes security employees generally to act more responsibly when women are in danger.”
Statement from Marisa Watley’s attorneys Michael J. Willemin and John S. Crain (of Wigdor LLP) and Jay Ellwanger and Kaylyn Betts (of Ellwanger Henderson):
Flip the page for the full lawsuit and more from Ms. Watley.
The post Realtor Marisa Watley Suing James Harden For Negligence After Accusing His Nephew of Assaulting Her at NYE Party appeared first on BlackSportsOnline.
