Shaq Blasts Man Accusing Him Of Mocking His Disability On Social Media

Retired NBA Player In Court Battle Over Selfie

Shaquille O’Neal is accused of believing he is above the law – after he blew off showing up to court mediation with the man suing him for emotional distress.

But the former NBA star has fired back, blasting the man’s attempt to trash his good name.

Back in 2014, Jahmel Binion sued O’Neal for mocking him on social media by re-posting his selfie and captioning it with mean-spirited comments.

Binion has a rare disorder called hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia — it causes limited hair growth, missing teeth and facial deformities.

The man sued the NBA star for defamation claiming more than eight million people saw the posts on social media and sought damages for the harm that was done to him.

Shaq fired back at the lawsuit, claiming he had no idea the man had a rare medical disorder and deleted the post once he found out. He said that if anyone’s reputation had been damaged it was his own due to people thinking he would mock someone with such a condition. He said Binion had not suffered any damages and was only suing him due to his deep pockets.

Shaq also said the picture was already publicly available to more than 150 million users as soon as Binion posted the selfie on his page – so he can’t claim that he had his privacy invaded when he uploaded to a social media website. He demanded the entire case be thrown out and the man awarded nothing.

Then on April 2nd, a federal court judge came back with his decision and sided with the NBA star, by dismissing all claims against him. The order stated that while Shaq’s posts were “highly offensive” in subject manner the plaintiff filed the suit in the wrong state. The case was closed with Binion being awarded nothing but he was allowed to re-file the case – which he did shortly after in Florida Court.

Shaq and Binion have been battling it out for months and are currently in the discovery phase of the lawsuit.

Last month, Binion headed to court demanding Shaq be sanctioned for failing to show up to mediation that took place last month.

The man said the NBA star’s lawyers had said that Shaq would be attending. However, days before the meeting his lawyers informed the plaintiff’s team that he would not be able to attend. They did say Shaq would be available via phone or Skype to talk to the mediator. Binion demanded that Shaq show up to the mediation but on the day of the meeting he was nowhere to be found – only his lawyers showed up.

The NBA star’s legal team said he was on the West Coast, and told Binion the judge never ordered Shaq to attend in person. The mediation went from 10am – past 7:30pm and the mediator spoke to Shaq via Skype – which Binion said was never approved by the judge.

The man said he later found out that Shaq was out in Los Angeles filming a segment for Jimmy Kimmel and taking meetings with his sponsor – Icy Hot.

Binion is furious and is demanding Shaq be punished and be ordered to pay for all his team’s travel costs, his legal fees for sending the lawyers to Miami and have to pay all future mediation costs out of his pocket. He said he is tired of seeing the NBA star be treated special due to his celebrity, and said no resolution came due to Shaq not showing up.

He demanded more than $13,000 from Shaq for blowing off the mediation.
But last week, Shaq fired back at the man’s motion, saying it’s a bunch of nonsense. He explained that the judge never specifically ordered him to physically attend the meeting.

Shaq also took issue with being painted as someone who believes they are above the law. He accused Binion of filing his motion only to trash his name. Further, he said him not being there has nothing to do with the case not being resolved during mediation.

He is demanding the man not be awarded a dime from his $13,000 money grab.