National Basketball Association

Valet worker files suit vs. LeBron's mom

Published Apr. 13, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

A valet at a Miami Beach hotel has filed a lawsuit against the mother of Miami Heat basketball star LeBron James, seeking financial damages less than a week after claiming she verbally abused and assaulted him while he was working.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges that valet Rock Feller Sorel suffered, among other things, ''emotional distress, humiliation, mental anguish (and) loss of capacity for enjoyment of life'' after allegedly being struck by Gloria James in the early morning hours of April 7 at the Fountainbleau hotel.

Sorel is seeking more than $15,000 in damages in the civil suit, which was filed five days after the incident.

Gloria James is not expected to face arraignment on charges of simple battery and disorderly intoxication for about another month.

''We do not comment on pending legal matters and therefore will not have any comment regarding the civil lawsuit,'' said attorney Christopher Lyons, who is representing Gloria James.

An attorney for Sorel did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.

When police were called to the hotel April 7, Sorel claimed she became upset because it was taking too long to deliver her car and struck him, according to police. Several witnesses supported Sorel's account and Gloria James had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, police said.