Hardin to take on Nuggets player in court of law

Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith will have more than the Rockets waiting for him tonight at Toyota Center.

Famed Houston attorney Rusty Hardin, who has long represented sports stars in Houston including his recent high-profile representation of former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens, is suing Smith for nonpayment of legal fees with a process server expected to serve Smith at tonight's game.

Hardin said he represented Smith in 2007 when Smith was accused in a civil lawsuit of assaulting another player in a summer basketball game at Fonde Recreation Center in Houston. In the lawsuit filed Tuesday by Hardin's attorney, Dale Jefferson, Smith is accused of not paying remaining legal fees of 22,753.

Jefferson said he does not believe it will be necessary “to serve him during a 20-second time out or in the pregame introductions, but he will be served at Toyota Center while he is here.”

Nuggets officials reached on Tuesday said the team and Smith would have no comment. Smith's agent, Thad Foucher, also had no comment.

Smith was suspended for three games to begin the 2007-08 season because of his role in an incident in a Denver nightclub. He served 24 days in a New Jersey prison in July after pleading guilty to reckless driving in a 2007 car crash.

“I've never sued a client before over legal fees,” Hardin said. “When we represented J.R. Smith in a civil lawsuit, the case was settled in mediation. ... He was sued for breaking a guy's jaw in an incident in Fonde. He never paid. It's the principle. He has a multi-million contract (worth $6,171,426 million this season) and refuses pay his bill.”