A lawsuit filed this week in Miami-Dade County alleges Jimmy Butler didn’t leave a Miami home in appropriate circumstances before his trade from the Heat to the Warriors.
Butler’s former landlord, Five Star Marketing and Promotions, is suing Butler for $257,282.00 in a civil lawsuit. The corporation alleges that Butler failed to pay rent for two months and left the property in a state of disrepair.
The $257,282.00 represents two months of missed rent and $127,282 worth of damages minus Butler’s security deposit.
According to the suit, Butler continued to reside as a holdover resident after the lease expired on Aug. 10, 2024 while neglecting to pay rent for two months.
Butler, according to the suit, also “caused the property to fall into complete disrepair due to misuse, neglect and waste.” The plaintiff alleges Butler’s “chief of staff” prevented the maintenance staff from entering the property by changing the locks and not providing a key; Butler let the pool become overgrown with algae and other debris; a leak in the ceiling, damage to the floor and mold growth happened because Butler didn’t maintain the air conditioning system.
The case was filed on Feb. 26. According to the 11th Miami-Dade County circuit court, there’s no hearing date scheduled yet.
The Warriors traded for Butler ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline, and he has totally changed Golden State’s season. The Warriors are 7-1 with him on the team and have elevated from 11th place in the Western Conference to sixth in a matter of weeks.
Butler is averaging 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game as a Warrior. He spent five full seasons in Miami, leading the Heat to two NBA Finals appearances.