NBA star Rajon Rondo and his girlfriend, Latoia, are facing a $1 million lawsuit over a parking lot altercation that was caught on video.
According to TMZ, a woman named Toktam filed the suit and claims Latoia punched her during a dispute that reportedly started over how closely cars were parked. The lawsuit alleges assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and conspiracy, and seeks unspecified damages. Toktam says she was injured.
TMZ released video of the encounter. It shows the two sides talking in the parking lot before Rondo steps in between them. Toktam is later seen stepping toward Latoia, Rondo is seen nudging her away, and a scuffle follows.
Toktam’s attorneys, Eddie Tehrani and Arnold Gross, said in a statement, “In the NBA, unnecessary and excessive contact is considered a Flagrant 2 foul, which can result in a fine, ejection and possible suspension of a player. Outside the NBA such conduct is considered an assault and battery. The video speaks for itself.”
Rondo’s attorney, Mark Baute, disputed the claims in comments to TMZ. He said the plaintiff parked her car two inches from Rondo’s door, was not in an assigned spot, refused to move her car and was not wearing a mask. He described the encounter as unpleasant but brief, and said Rondo was trying to keep the two women apart, which was awkward because he had a broken thumb. Baute said he plans to fight the case, as reported by Complex.
These are allegations in a civil lawsuit, and no ruling has been made.
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