On behalf of Zeke's mother, Jewel Upshaw, Hilliard and Florida civil rights lawyer Ben Crump filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Hilliard and Crump brought legal action against the NBA, the Detroit Pistons, the Grand Rapids Drive, and the Deltaplex Arena where the game was held.[40][41] A deal was reached in December, 2019 with the NBA and the Pistons, but no details were disclosed.[42]