While no criminal charges have been filed against Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant for his fight with Joshua Hollway during a pickup basketball game last summer, lawsuits still remain on both sides. In a recent ruling from a judge, it was revealed that Morant and his team can claim self defense. The details of the ruling were explained by ESPN in an article on the situation:
"Lawyers for Grizzlies guard Ja Morant are allowed to argue that he was acting in self-defense as part of a lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game, a judge ruled Thursday," ESPN reported. "... Morant's lawyers have acknowledged that he punched Holloway one time after the teenager hit Morant in the chin with a thrown basketball. In a July 26 motion, the player's lawyers said he should be immune from liability under the state's 'stand your ground' law, which allows people who feel threatened at their homes to act with force in certain situations. The law is used in criminal cases, but Chumney's ruling clears the way for Morant's lawyers to apply it in the civil case and attempt to have the lawsuit dismissed."
This is a positive development for Morant and his team, but the final outcome of this lawsuit remains to be seen until after the process plays itself out. There have been several updates throughout this process, and ESPN has detailed this latest one.