Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball and his parents, LaVar and Tina Ball, are being sued for more than $200 million by Big Baller Brand co-founder Alan Foster, who accuses them of trademark infringement, fraud, unfair business practices and more.
In a separate case, Foster is also suing LaMelo Ball's older brother, Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball, for malicious prosecution, intentional interference with contractual relations and unjust enrichment. He is seeking more than $600,000 in legal costs in addition to damages, which could amount to millions more.
The two lawsuits, filed less than two months apart, are unrelated in a legal sense but both reflect the deterioration of a once-close relationship between Foster and the Ball family, which is from Chino Hills.
Last week, Foster filed a federal lawsuit in Los Angeles on Monday that named LaVar, Tina and LaMelo Ball among the co-defendants. The filing describes "a very coordinated effort on behalf of the Defendants to do one thing — prevent Alan from having any interest in the family companies of the Ball Family and the money they generate."
Other co-defendants in that case include the apparel company Puma, which has a shoe deal with LaMelo Ball; LaMelo Ball's MB1 Enterprises LLC; and LaVar Ball's Big Baller Brand Inc. A total of 12 causes of action are being brought against some or all of the defendants.
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The lawsuit states Foster...
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