Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant has secured a major legal victory after a Shelby County Chancery Court ordered local restaurant chain The Wing Guru to pay him more than $365,000 in damages, interest, and legal fees. The ruling comes after Morant sued the business for breach of contract, alleging that it continued to use his name, image, and likeness for promotional purposes long after payments had stopped.
The dispute dates back to a promotional agreement signed in January 2022, which allowed The Wing Guru to use Morant’s likeness in advertising campaigns. In return, Morant was to receive $6,250 per month, totaling $75,000 annually. However, according to court filings, the restaurant ceased payments just four months into the deal but continued to use Morant’s image across multiple locations and marketing materials.
Morant’s legal team sent multiple requests for payment, including a letter in November 2022 asking the company to “true up” the more than $43,000 owed. The Wing Guru responded via email, promising to pay the full $75,000 by January 1, 2023, but no payment was ever made.
The case was eventually sent to arbitration, where retired federal judge Bernice Donald ruled in Morant’s favor. The arbitrator awarded $225,000 in compensatory damages, $75,000 for each of the three cities where The Wing Guru used Morant’s likeness, plus $31,250 in punitive damages and the remaining $43,750 from the original contract. The restaurant was also ordered to pay Morant’s attorney’s fees, bringing the total to $365,525.30.
Chancellor Melanie Taylor Jefferson formally enforced the arbitration ruling on August 15, citing The Wing Guru’s failure to respond to legal filings or challenge the award. The court also issued an injunction barring the restaurant from further use of Morant’s image.
