Bienert Katzman Littrell Williams LLP partners Thomas H. Bienert, Jr. and Tony Bisconti secured a complete victory in the lawsuit filed against their client, NBA All-Star James Harden, by a man claiming to have been physically assaulted by Harden.

In November 2013, Plaintiff Barak Golan filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court against Harden, alleging causes of action for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  Golan claimed that Harden, seated in the back seat of an SUV that was exiting a nightclub parking lot, had rolled down his window and punched Golan in the face after Golan told him “Kobe owes your ass.”  Golan also alleged that Harden had leaned out of the car and stuck his middle finger towards Golan as the vehicle departed the parking lot.  Golan sought over $1 million in damages against Harden, specifically $250,000 for his alleged pain and suffering, $250,000 for his alleged emotional distress, $10,000 in alleged past and future medical expenses, and $500,000 in punitive damages.

After aggressively litigating the matter, including several rounds of written discovery and deposing Golan over several hours, Tom and Tony secured a walkway settlement with Golan in June 2015.  Under the settlement, Golan dismissed all of this claims with prejudice and received nothing from Harden.

Read more:

• James Harden settles lawsuit, TMZ.com.
• Big win for BKLW client James Harden in paparazzo personal injury case, bklwlaw.com.
• Analyzing why James Harden won paparazzi assault trial, Sports Illustrated. 
• BKLW secures dismissal of $6 billion damage claim, sanctions award against client, bklwlaw.com.