James Harden's Restaurant in Legal Spotlight After Fatal Car Accident

Lately, James Harden has been on fire, scoring 41 points (including 7 three-pointers) on Monday against the Jazz. However, the Beard's offensive game may not be the only thing heating up in the world of the Clippers guard, as his companies "13 Strikes, LLC" and “Team Harden, LLC” find themselves in hot water after being named as defendants in a new lawsuit.

Last week, a lawsuit was filed against “13 Strikes,” which operates the star's Houston-based restaurant, "Thirteen by James Harden." This suit was initially filed by the family of Taylar Jackson before being joined by the family of former NFL defensive back D.J. Hayden. As fans may recall, Hayden was tragically killed in a November 2023 car accident that left seven dead, including Jackson and the driver who caused the accident, Christian Herrera. Hayden, a former first-round pick who played college football at the University of Houston, had retired in 2022 after a nine-year NFL career and was visiting former college teammates when the tragedy occurred.

On the night of the accident, Herrera dined at "Thirteen" and left the restaurant in his vehicle. Moments later, Herrera ran a red light and struck Hayden's car, killing Herrera, Hayden, and a nearby pedestrian. The other three passengers in Hayden's vehicle (all former University of Houston football players) were also sadly killed. According to the lawsuit, Herrera's autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was 0.139, easily surpassing the 0.08 Texas limit.

While Harden was not named directly in the lawsuit, the Jackson and Hayden families are moving forward with a wrongful death claim against "13 Strikes," alleging that the restaurant over-served Herrera past the point of obvious intoxication in violation of the Texas Dram Shop Act. Despite the complaint failing to specify the amount of damages that the families will be seeking, a later court motion suggested a request for relief in excess of $1 million.

Generally speaking, dram shop acts (which have been adopted in 43 states) hold businesses liable when they serve alcohol to parties who are visibly intoxicated and later cause damage to themselves or other people. Under the Texas Dram Shop Act, businesses with liquor licenses (like "Thirteen") can be sued for damages if they sell alcohol to a person who “was obviously intoxicated to the extent that [they] presented a clear danger to [themselves] and others.” Here, the complaint alleges that the car accident would not have happened if the restaurant had not continued to serve Herrera drinks past the point where he could safely operate his car.

Much like the Kyrie Irving suit I discussed previously, it is important to note that this complaint only represents one side of the story. While fans will take note of this case due to the big names involved, it is likely that both Harden's companies and the families of the victims will look to resolve this matter quickly and attempt to move forward from these tragic events. As this case unfolds, it serves as a somber reminder of the serious responsibility that establishments face when serving alcohol and the devastating consequences that can arise when those limits are exceeded. While Harden himself may not be directly implicated, the lawsuit against his businesses highlights the importance of accountability and prevention in ensuring that such heartbreaking events never happen again. Fans will be watching closely to see how this high-profile case progresses and whether it paves the way for further changes in policy or practice within the hospitality industry.