Brothers file suit against Francis
Magic guard Steve Francis is the target of a civil lawsuit after an alleged fight in a club.
By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 17, 2005
Two brothers have filed a civil lawsuit against Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis this week, alleging he and his entourage beat them during an early-morning fight Sunday at a popular Washington nightclub.
The lawsuit was filed late Wednesday in the Superior Court of Washington, D.C./Civil Division.
Jeff Fried, Francis' agent, said Thursday: "This is nothing but an attempted shakedown of a high-profile athlete. It's ridiculous."
Francis was unavailable to comment.
Stephanie D. Moran, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, disputed Fried's assessment.
"This lawsuit was filed to protect the legal rights of our clients, advocating full justice on their behalf," Moran said Thursday evening in response. "I would caution anyone from giving public statements unless they take extra care to make sure they are grounded in truth."
Francis was in downtown Washington on Saturday night sitting ringside for the Mike Tyson boxing match at the MCI Center. He and his friends attended a post-fight party at the Zanzibar on the Waterfront restaurant.
According to police reports, there was a fight at the restaurant in which officers were called, but no arrests were made.
Commander Thomas McGuire of the D.C. Police Department neither would confirm nor deny Francis was involved, or whether he was being questioned. He did say one person had his jaw broken in the fight.
"We don't know what his [Francis] participation was. There is an investigation going on," McGuire said. "I can't confirm or deny anything."
The suit is against Francis and 12 unidentified members of his party. It was filed by Akbar Muhammad of Essex County, N.J., and Nafis Muhammad-Baker of Landover, Md. Francis is from nearby Silver Spring, Md., and he played college basketball at the University of Maryland.
The lawsuit alleges the fight started after Francis became enraged at Muhammad-Baker because of a comment he made about a woman who was with Francis. The suit also alleges the woman "appeared extremely tousled to the extent that her breasts had become partially exposed."
According to the lawsuit, after the two argued, Francis left the VIP section of the restaurant and returned with 12 others. It alleges Francis hit Muhammad-Baker over the head with a bottle. Both brothers were beaten unconscious, according to the suit, and both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Fried insisted Thursday that although Francis was at the restaurant, he was rushed out by his security people after a bottle was thrown at him and wasn't involved in the fight. "Steve wasn't even in the place when those alleged details took place," Fried said. "They filed a civil lawsuit even before the investigation by the authorities. It's further telling of their motives. If it were Jeff Fried involved instead of Steve Francis, there wouldn't be any lawsuit. It has every indication of a shakedown. He's very disappointed."
A Magic spokesperson said team officials had spoken to Francis and Fried, and they were gathering more information and would have no further comment.
Francis, who joined the Magic last summer in the trade of Tracy McGrady, led the Magic in scoring and assists this past season. He did have his unsavory moments, though.
He finished third in the league in technical fouls. He was suspended for three games by the league for kicking a courtside photographer, and the Magic also fined him for missing the first practice after the all-star break
Magic guard Steve Francis is the target of a civil lawsuit after an alleged fight in a club.
By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted June 17, 2005
Two brothers have filed a civil lawsuit against Orlando Magic guard Steve Francis this week, alleging he and his entourage beat them during an early-morning fight Sunday at a popular Washington nightclub.
The lawsuit was filed late Wednesday in the Superior Court of Washington, D.C./Civil Division.
Jeff Fried, Francis' agent, said Thursday: "This is nothing but an attempted shakedown of a high-profile athlete. It's ridiculous."
Francis was unavailable to comment.
Stephanie D. Moran, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, disputed Fried's assessment.
"This lawsuit was filed to protect the legal rights of our clients, advocating full justice on their behalf," Moran said Thursday evening in response. "I would caution anyone from giving public statements unless they take extra care to make sure they are grounded in truth."
Francis was in downtown Washington on Saturday night sitting ringside for the Mike Tyson boxing match at the MCI Center. He and his friends attended a post-fight party at the Zanzibar on the Waterfront restaurant.
According to police reports, there was a fight at the restaurant in which officers were called, but no arrests were made.
Commander Thomas McGuire of the D.C. Police Department neither would confirm nor deny Francis was involved, or whether he was being questioned. He did say one person had his jaw broken in the fight.
"We don't know what his [Francis] participation was. There is an investigation going on," McGuire said. "I can't confirm or deny anything."
The suit is against Francis and 12 unidentified members of his party. It was filed by Akbar Muhammad of Essex County, N.J., and Nafis Muhammad-Baker of Landover, Md. Francis is from nearby Silver Spring, Md., and he played college basketball at the University of Maryland.
The lawsuit alleges the fight started after Francis became enraged at Muhammad-Baker because of a comment he made about a woman who was with Francis. The suit also alleges the woman "appeared extremely tousled to the extent that her breasts had become partially exposed."
According to the lawsuit, after the two argued, Francis left the VIP section of the restaurant and returned with 12 others. It alleges Francis hit Muhammad-Baker over the head with a bottle. Both brothers were beaten unconscious, according to the suit, and both were taken by ambulance to a local hospital.
Fried insisted Thursday that although Francis was at the restaurant, he was rushed out by his security people after a bottle was thrown at him and wasn't involved in the fight. "Steve wasn't even in the place when those alleged details took place," Fried said. "They filed a civil lawsuit even before the investigation by the authorities. It's further telling of their motives. If it were Jeff Fried involved instead of Steve Francis, there wouldn't be any lawsuit. It has every indication of a shakedown. He's very disappointed."
A Magic spokesperson said team officials had spoken to Francis and Fried, and they were gathering more information and would have no further comment.
Francis, who joined the Magic last summer in the trade of Tracy McGrady, led the Magic in scoring and assists this past season. He did have his unsavory moments, though.
He finished third in the league in technical fouls. He was suspended for three games by the league for kicking a courtside photographer, and the Magic also fined him for missing the first practice after the all-star break
