SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Jazz fan banned by the team in the wake of an incident involving former Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook is suing the Jazz and Westbrook, alleging defamation and infliction of emotional distress, among other claims, and is asking for $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
In a statement, Jazz officials said they would “vigorously defend the lawsuit.”
“We believe there is no legal or factual basis for these claims against the Utah Jazz. The organization investigated the underlying incident and acted in an appropriate and responsible manner. We intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.” — Utah Jazz statement
The complaint was filed Monday in 4th District Court in Utah County on behalf of Shane Keisel and his girlfriend Jennifer Huff. Keisel received a lifetime ban from events held at Vivint Arena following an incident at a game between the Jazz and the Thunder on March 11.
Keisel and Westbrook got into a heated verbal exchange when Westbrook claimed that Keisel directed racist and degrading remarks from his near courtside seat toward the All-Star guard while Westbrook was on the team’s bench.
The Jazz organization launched an investigation and issued the ban one day after the incident took place. The team announced the ban was effective immediately and included all arena events.
Keisel’s lawsuit claims that the investigation was “inadequate” and did not involve interviewing nearby witnesses.
According to a team statement at the time, the investigation determined that Keisel violated the NBA Code of Conduct through excessive and derogatory verbal abuse toward Westbrook, noting “there is no place in our game for personal attacks or disrespect.”
For his part in the incident, the NBA fined Westbrook $25,000 for “directing profanity and threatening language to a fan.”
Westbrook never approached the fan, but his explicit language was directed at Keisel and Huff.
Prior to the start of the next Jazz home game on March 14, team owner Gail Miller addressed the crowd with a heartfelt speech while the Fan Code of Conduct was displayed on the Jumbotron.
“This shouldn’t happen,” she said. “We are not a racist community.”
The next day, the team issued another lifetime ban to a second fan for degrading and offensive conduct directed toward Westbrook that took place during the 2018 postseason.
Court documents stated the ban and ensuing publicity resulted in Keisel losing his job at Brent Brown Toyota and his place in a pilot training program with SkyWest Airlines. The lawsuit also claims that Keisel has received death threats and personal attacks in the wake of the incident and ensuing publicity. The suit also claims Huff has suffered as well because of the fallout from the incident.
The Utah Jazz issued a statement saying, “We believe there is no legal or factual basis for these claims against the Utah Jazz. The organization investigated the underlying incident and acted in an appropriate and responsible manner. We intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.”
No comment has been made by Westbrook or his representatives.