Utah Jazz fan’s lawsuit over taunting incident dismissed

FILE - In this March 11, 2019, file photo, Oklahoma City Thunder's Russell Westbrook gets into a heated verbal altercation with fans in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Salt Lake City. A Utah Jazz fan who was banned for life from Vivint Smart Home Arena after allegedly yelling what Russell Westbrook claimed were "racial" and "inappropriate" remarks at him, has sued the Houston Rockets player and the Jazz, saying he was wrongly accused. The lawsuit, filed Monday, Dec. 16, 2019, in 4th District Court in Utah County on behalf of Shane Keisel and his girlfriend Jennifer Huff, seeks $100 million in compensatory and punitive damages, alleging defamation and infliction of emotional distress. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A lawsuit against the Utah Jazz by a fan who was banned for life from the team’s arena over what were called racial taunts directed at point guard Russell Westbrook was dismissed by a judge, according to court documents filed Thursday.

Shane Keisel has said there was nothing racial about his heckling during the 2019 game and that the high-profile incident cost him his job and exposed him to online threats. The Jazz, however, said the team investigated the episode that ignited a national conversation about race and fan behavior and stood by the decision to bar him from the arena.

The ruling came just hours after Westbrook was once again a victim of unruly fan behavior, this time in Philadelphia where someone sitting over the tunnel that leads from the floor threw popcorn on him as he left the game with an ankle injury Wednesday night. The 76ers apologized Thursday and announced the unnamed fan who was a season-ticket holder would be banned from all events at the arena.

The NBA said rules surrounding fan behavior will be “vigorously enforced” going forward. In a separate incident Wednesday night, video showed that someone spit on Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks while he was preparing to inbound the basketball in the fourth quarter of New York’s win over Atlanta at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks apologized and banned that fan from the arena.

An unrelated verbal altercation occurred at the Jazz arena Wednesday night that resulted in the removal and banning of three Jazz fans indefinitely, the team said, declining to provide additional details.

“Utah Jazz have zero tolerance for offensive or disruptive behavior,” the Jazz said in a statement. “We apologize to all who were impacted by this unfortunate incident and condemn unacceptable fan behavior.”

In the 2019 incident, Westbrook was fined $25,000 by the NBA after video surfaced of him directing vulgar comments at Keisel in the crowd. Then a point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder who had had other in-game exchanges with fans, Westbrook was shown along the sideline using threatening language that also referred to Keisel’s girlfriend, who was at the game.

Westbrook said at the time that he had been provoked by the fan who told him to “get down on your knees like you used to.”

Westbrook said he would never abuse a woman, but that Keisel’s racial taunts went over the line, especially after past disrespectful comments from other Utah fans. His stance was backed by Jazz star Donovan Mitchell, who said it wasn’t the first time a racially motivated event occurred at a Jazz game.

The Jazz banned Keisel the day after the game, saying there is no room for personal attacks or disrespect.

In the lawsuit, Keisel acknowledged heckling Westbrook, who now plays for the Washington Wizards, and telling him in a mocking way to “take care of his knees” because the point guard had them wrapped in towels while he sat on the bench. But he denies making the comment that Westbrook said he did.

Jazz attorney Jeff Hunt said the team was “pleased with the court’s ruling” and will continue to enforce its fan code of conduct.

Scott Hoyt, Keisel’s attorney, said his client intends to appeal the trial court’s decision.

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2 Comments

  • Blayne May 28, 2021 at 11:12 am Reply

    It’s unfortunate that athletes can say whatever they want and get away with it. Even going as far as to accuse fans of saying and doing things that aren’t accurate. In this case, the guy loses his job and faces threats all because Westbrook lied. And organizations like the Jazz played right into Westbrook’s antics – reacting when they don’t have the facts. Where’s the accountability for the athlete’s actions? I suggest we stop buying game tickets and merchandise.

  • Thor May 29, 2021 at 11:40 am Reply

    Blayne, I suggest you just shut your mouth and watch the game with good sportsmanship. If he hadn’t runneth off by the mouth like an idiot, this never would have happened. Fans need to learn to respect the athletes and sacrifice these players make. Of course it has to be in Utah where an idiot ran his mouth and put the state in the spotlight (AGAIN). your comment about not buying tickets, just shows your unawareness of the game. A coward points towards that goal of not supporting the states team or the NBA.

    This is a typical Utah saying, the same as, “if you don’t like Utah…leave!”Shane Keisel was wrong and Karma licked him good. He needs to walk on and learn from his lesson. Better off….”Leave Utah and find another team,” He did nothing but shame the Jazz and the state with his fake machoism.

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