LaMelo Ball and Puma Sued By Co-Founder of Big Baller Brand

The co-founder of the Big Baller Brand, Alan Foster, has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Puma and LaMelo Ball, as first revealed by TMZ Sports. Ball’s parents, LaVar Ball and Tina Ball, were also named in the suit.

According to reports, Foster asserts substantial involvement in the development of the Charlotte Hornets star’s Puma signature line, particularly the creation of the ‘MB1’ name.

Per TMZ, Foster’s lawyer claims that LaMelo and his team knew that Foster had ownership of trademarks and was heavily involved.

“He knew that Big Baller Brand signature shoe was called the ‘MB1’ and that the name was protected by federal trademark,” Foster’s attorney reportedly stated. “Yet despite his knowledge of all of this, LaMelo willfully and deliberately chose to name the signature shoe he created and designed with Puma the ‘MB1’ in violation of the LaMelo trademarks.”

In 2016, Alan Foster and LaVar Ball co-founded the Big Baller Brand. However, in March 2019, Lonzo Ball, the eldest son of LaVar, revealed the family cut ties with Fostersuspicions about his criminal past. Lonzo also claimed that $1.5 million from multiple bank accounts went missing, and he believed Foster was involved in some capacity. According to his attorney, once Foster was released from his duty, the family recreated the company under the same name and using trademarked properties that Foster had helped create.

Foster is seeking over $200 million in damages from Puma.