NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and forward Matt Barnes are being sued by two people who claim the NBA players assaulted them at a New York night club early Monday morning.
No criminal charges have been filed against either Cousins or Barnes, who according to the Sacramento Bee have both hired attorney Alex Spiro to represent them.
Spiro has represented numerous athletes in high-profile cases, including Atlanta Hawks player Thabo Sefolosha, who was found not guilty of several charges in an incident at a club in New York in which his leg was broken.
Sefolosha sued the New York Police Department and won.
“We do not believe a crime was committed and are hopeful no charges will be pressed,” Spiro told ESPN on Monday.
Jasmine Besiso and Myrone Powell allege that Barnes choked Besiso and Cousins punched Powell in the face after Powell came to the aid of Besiso before dawn on Monday at Avenue night club in Manhattan.
Barnes allegedly elbowed Besiso in the face and knocked her unconscious. Cousins and Barnes then allegedly forced Powell to the ground and punched him.
Besiso and Powell filed the lawsuit in New York District Court on Wednesday and have requested a jury trial.
Cousins and Barnes were in New York with the Kings for a game against the New York Knicks on Sunday night.
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