The son of late actor Paul Newman is suing an Australian NBA player for an alleged assault that occurred at a school in California.
John Henry Newman, the son of the late actor and philanthropist, is suing Australian basketball player Thon Maker for an alleged assault that occurred in January 2016. The incident allegedly took place at a high school in California, where Maker was a student and Newman was a teacher.
According to the lawsuit, Maker “grabbed [Newman] by the throat and pushed him against a wall” during an altercation. The lawsuit also claims that Maker “repeatedly punched [Newman] in the face and head” and “threatened to kill him.”
Newman is seeking unspecified damages for physical and emotional pain, suffering, and medical expenses. He also claims that he has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder since the incident.
Maker, who currently plays for the Detroit Pistons, has denied the allegations. His attorney has released a statement saying that Maker “denies any wrongdoing and will vigorously defend himself against these false allegations.”
The case is scheduled to go to trial in June 2019. It is unclear at this time how the case will be resolved, but it is sure to be closely watched by both fans of the NBA and fans of Paul Newman.
