Josh McRoberts was once battling severe health issues as he played in 81 total regular-season games across his final four seasons. But now the former 11-year veteran is seeking to protect his family through a civil lawsuit. The former NBA player (who played for the Miami Heat among other teams) has filed a lawsuit against Zionsville Town Council member Sarah Sampson and her husband, Jon Sampson, accusing them of exploiting his 85-year-old grandmother, Carolyn Pennington, through undue influence to obtain her historical estate.

McRoberts and his mother Jennifer McRoberts filed the lawsuit on June 1, 2026, through the Boone County Superior Court (Case No. 06D01-2606-PL-001109), and according to the complaint, the Sampsons allegedly used undue influence to take over Pennington’s historic ~7-acre Indiana estate on Ford Road. Pennington had been diagnosed with dementia and was living in an assisted living facility. The lawsuit claims Sarah Sampson removed Pennington from her care facility while her daughter (McRoberts’ mother) was away on a planned vacation. It further states that Sarah, who was elected to the Zionsville Town Council in 2023/2024, kept Carolyn isolated from her family for weeks.

Pennington died on May 6, 2026, less than a month after being taken out of the assisted living facility. While being away from the family, Pennington was pressured into signing over the deed to her property for $750,000. McRoberts also stated that this was far below market value, especially given that he had personally invested approximately $1 million into the estate to preserve it for the family. The filing states that Pennington asked her grandson to pay off the mortgage and help with repairs at the property so it could “stay in their family.”

Response from Sarah Sampson to former NBA star’s allegations

Speaking to WTHR 13NEWS, Sampson had “no comment” on the allegations. Meanwhile, her legal team called them the “most salacious allegations” they had seen.

Sarah has claimed she is the rightful trustee of the estate and that she and Pennington were “good friends.” In fact, her lawyers argued that Pennington sold 1.2 acres of her property two years ago, well before any allegations of dementia.

The former NBA star McRoberts maintains that his grandmother had explicitly named him as the proper successor trustee to keep the property within the family. Because of the severe nature of the allegations outlined in the Boone County Court hearings, public pressure has mounted with the Boone County Democratic Party calling for Sarah Sampson to resign from the Zionsville Town Council.

Currently, there’s a temporary injunction in place. WTHR 13NEWS confirmed that it’ll run through the 22nd of this month (June 22, 2026). Then a Boone County judge will have to decide whether to issue a preliminary injunction, with the family asking for Pennington’s grandson to take control of that property.