According to TMZ, the girlfriend of NBA player Rajon Rondo punched a woman in a parking lot altercation this summer.
The two-time NBA champion and his girlfriend, Latoia Fitzgerald, reportedly got into it with another woman back in July about a parking space at a Los Angeles apartment complex. Now, that woman, Toktam Jorshari, is suing the former Los Angeles Laker and Fitzgerald for “assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress and conspiracy.”
She is seeking $1 million for unspecified damages.
In the soundless video, obtained by TMZ and circulated on social media, both Rondo and Fitzgerald can be seen arguing with Jorshari for quite some time before the scene takes a dramatic turn.
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Rondo is seen holding Fitzgerald back and nudging Jorshari towards the front of her car with his elbow. This is when it all escalates, as Fitzgerald then throws punches at Jorshari, and Rondo simply steps back and watches.
According to her lawyers, Eddie Tehrani & Arnold Gross from State Law Firm, Jorshari was the victim in this situation and has a strong case.
Per TMZ, they explained: “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. No man should ever put their hands on a woman, ESPECIALLY an NBA basketball player with superior height, and strength. The video speaks for itself.”
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Attorney Mark D. Baute, who is representing Rondo, disagrees, telling TMZ: “The plaintiff and Mr. Rondo’s girlfriend had an unpleasant encounter that lasted roughly 10 seconds, and Mr. Rondo tried to prevent them from any further interaction, which was awkward due to (a) his thumb being broken, and (b) the plaintiff not wearing a mask.”
In his statements, Baute spoke well of Rondo’s new future with in Atlanta, saying, “The focus now is on playing the best possible basketball for the Atlanta Hawks.”
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