Lawsuit filed for alleged fight within UNM men’s basketball team

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Lawyers for a Lobo men’s basketball player have filed a lawsuit against the University of New Mexico and head coach Richard Pitino, alleging that a teammate assaulted him and another player.

Shane Douma-Sanchez Attorneys They allege in the lawsuit that UNM’s coaching staff ignored hazing and violent behavior before the alleged assault. The lawsuit alleges that staff fostered an unsafe environment.

The teammate who allegedly hit Douma Sánchez in the nose and who already had an injured shoulder is not named in the lawsuit and does not face charges. However, the lawsuit describes him as a scholarship recruit who starts out and earns six figures for playing.

The lawsuit alleges that the teammate in question attempted to intimidate Douma-Sanchez and others by claiming to be a gang member. He reportedly harassed Douma-Sanchez as if he were an escort and referred to him as “the fat native.” Douma Sánchez is a member of Laguna Pueblo and played basketball at Del Norte High School in Albuquerque.

Douma-Sanchez’s attorneys claim UNM turned a blind eye to the misconduct, resulting in the hazing and subsequent assault.

The lawsuit alleges that the teammate hit Douma-Sanchez during the flight to the Acrisure Classic in Palm Springs. Lawyers claim the teammate hit him because of where he was sitting on the plane. They claim he broke her nose and re-injured her shoulder.

Attorneys claim the same teammate came to Douma-Sanchez’s hotel room in Palm Springs and threatened to fight him. Lawyers then claim that a teammate assaulted another teammate and threw him into a bathtub. The attorney referred to that other player as John Doe, who is also a companion.

The lawsuit also investigates what coach Richard Pitino allegedly did. We’ll have more on that on Nightbeat at 10pm.