A Harris County judge has ordered a law firm that once represented the owners of the Toyota Center to pay more than $100,000 after finding the firm ignored court deadlines and withheld evidence in a lawsuit over a 2022 fall that left a man quadriplegic. The sanction is the latest flare-up in a contentious case that accuses arena owners of failing to fix a dangerous piece of steel at a Downtown Houston exit.
Long Ha, described by his lawyers as a lifelong Rockets fan, was leaving a game on Jan. 10, 2022, when his toe allegedly caught on a piece of steel inside a tree well at the Bell Street exit. Lawyers say he fell, struck his head and suffered catastrophic spinal injuries that left him quadriplegic. The family has sued the Toyota Center owners, naming the Houston Sports Authority, Fertitta Entertainment, Clutch City Sports and Entertainment and Rocket Ball among the defendants, and is seeking more than $1 million in damages. Plaintiffs’ attorneys told reporters that a judge found defense counsel failed to comply with discovery orders and levied sanctions, according to ABC13.
Sanctions and who was ordered to pay
The judge’s order singled out Wilson Elser, a national defense firm with a Texas presence, and required the firm to cover roughly six figures in fees tied to work plaintiff counsel did to secure evidence and compliance. According to plaintiffs, the payment was directed to Chance and Jaqualine McMillan of McMillan Law and to Russell S. Post and Parth S. Gejji of Beck Redden. Beck Redden identifies Post and Gejji among its appellate partners, and Wilson Elser lists Houston among its offices, a reminder that major firms can end up in the middle of what started as a straightforward local safety claim. Beck Redden and Wilson Elser provide background on the firms and attorneys tied to the filings.
What sanctions mean under Texas law
Texas courts have broad authority to punish discovery abuses and to order payments or other remedies when parties or their lawyers ignore court orders or materially withhold evidence. The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure and state precedent require sanctions to be “just” and proportionate, a standard developed in cases such as Cire v. Cummings and Trevino v. Ortega, which courts use when weighing remedies for discovery failures and spoliation. Those principles are outlined in opinions available through FindLaw for Cire v. Cummings and through FindLaw for Trevino v. Ortega.
Case status and next steps
Plaintiffs’ counsel say the case is moving forward and they hope for a trial before the end of the year. ABC13 reports that the Wilson Elser team no longer represents Fertitta Entertainment and that new counsel has been retained for the defendants. Court records and the parties’ filings will determine whether the sanctions affect trial timing or lead to additional penalties for discovery misconduct, plaintiffs’ lawyers told reporters. For now, the family is pursuing damages to cover lifetime care, lost income and pain and suffering tied to what attorneys describe as a life‑altering injury.
Beyond the courtroom, the dispute highlights how event venues and their operators come under the microscope after serious injuries, and how discovery battles can shape what juries ultimately see. For Downtown crowds and venue managers alike, the outcome will be a closely watched example of how safety, maintenance and legal process collide when an allegedly preventable hazard causes lasting harm.
