Alleged Father of Basketball Star Files Paternity Suit

Leicester Stovell, a Washington lawyer, has filed a lawsuit in federal court asserting his father's rights as the father of basketball star LeBron James.  As reported by CNN, Stovell contends that both the athlete and his family have been committing fraud and misrepresentation by attempting a cover-up to deny his paternity.

Stovell told HLN's Prime News that he wants to prove that he is LeBron's father with "a carefully structured and secure DNA test." Earlier tests ruled him out but, Stovell contends they might have been tampered with "and there are indications that there was a motivation."

It has taken him three years so far to establish his paternal rights and is seeking $4 million in damages.

Gloria James, LeBron's mother, allegedly had sex with Stovell after meeting him in a Washington bar during her visit from Ohio in 1984.  She reportedly told him that she was pregnant a few months later but did not tell him whether or not he was the father.

Stovell maintains that he requested one thing from Gloria James, that if the child were a boy that he play basketball. 

His memory of their short encounter only surfaced 20 years later.  Stovell stated, "after being asked whether I had a son, and I then systematically explored all of my past for that possibility.  I came across this set of recollections and in focusing on them, they amplified."

In his complaint he asserts, "I recently have concluded that a comprehensive, sophisticated and well-funded effort might well have been underway for quite some time, perhaps beginning in its present form as early as when defendant LeBron James was in high school, to frustrate identification of his real father, and that there is a likelihood that the father in question is me."

In regards to a statute of limitations that was about to expire Stovell said, "I have some limitation considerations that caused me to want to file the suit before the end of June."

Stovell denied that the timing of his lawsuit had anything to do with LeBron's deal for next season that is thought to be worth tens of millions of dollars.

Gloria James, 16 at the time of LeBron's conception but claiming to be in her early 20's, allegedly informed him that she would name the child LeBron, a mixture of Stovell's first and middle names, Leicester Bryce.

Frederick Nance of Cleveland, Ohio, is LeBron James's attorney while Stovell, a solo legal practitioner in the District of Columbia, filed his suit on his own behalf.

This is not Stovell's first lawsuit.  In 2002, when he was a government attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he filed a lawsuit against the agency for racial discrimination.  The commission, without admitting fault, paid him $230,000 and the Federal court records show that the case was settled.

If you are considering your rights in a paternity case, click here to locate an experienced family law attorney that can help you.