Court Dismisses Defamation Claim Against Utah Jazz and Russell Westbrook

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by two Utah Jazz fans in state court in Utah against the Utah Jazz and NBA star Russell Westbrook, which alleged that the Jazz and Westbrook defamed the plaintiffs when they publicly branded them racists, after the plaintiffs directed insensitive remarks against Westbrook during a game. In so ruling the court found that plaintiffs Shane Keisel and Jennifer Huff were never identified by name and that the term “racist” is not an actionable word.