Atlanta Hawks guard Thabo Sefolosha already has one legal victory over New York City, and he's coming for a second. But this time, millions of dollars are on the line instead of possible jail time.
Sefolosha is planning to sue New York City and eight NYPD officers for up to $50 million over injuries he sustained in a struggle with police outside of a Manhattan club on the night of April 8, according to the New York Post. Sefolosha suffered a fractured leg that night after cops tackled him to the ground for allegedly disobeying police orders to leave an area near where Chris Copeland, another NBA player, had been stabbed earlier.
The legal notice of the claim was quietly filed over the summer and according to the Post, Sefolosha believes his injuries are "permanent" and that he's become "substantially disabled."
“Unfortunately, he may not be dunking as much as he was before this happened,” said Sefolosha's lawyer Alex Spiro in the Post's report.
Sefolosha had to miss the entirety of the Hawks' playoff run after breaking his leg, but has since returned to the court. Ironically, Sefolosha dunked in an Oct. 18 preseason game -- a highlight his lawyer may wish to see erased from the Internet.
Sefolosha is bringing the city to court now, but the tables were turned earlier this month when he was put on trial for misdeamenor obstructing government administration, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest over the April 8 incident with NYPD.
A Manhattan jury found him not guilty of all three charges on Oct. 9.
Sefolosha's ongoing fight for justice should continue into his NBA season, which begins when the Hawks play the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 27.
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