GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Southern California cornerback Brian Baucham is suing the school and former coach Lane Kiffin, alleging he was forced to play in a game while ill.
A law firm representing Baucham, AgnewBrusavich, said the suit was filed Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Baucham claims he suffered “cardiopulmonary damage” and “brain injury with neurocognitive deficits” after he played against California at the Coliseum on Sept. 22, 2012. Baucham’s lawsuit claims he was ill and dehydrated before the game, but was “forced” to play by Kiffin.
“USC and head coach Kiffin were clearly negligent and acted with conscious disregard for Brian’s welfare and safety by forcing him to play … despite his verified medical history and seriously ill condition,” said Bruce M. Brusavich, Baucham’s attorney.
Baucham, who had sustained a concussion two months earlier, collapsed on the field in the fourth quarter against Cal. He was taken to a hospital by ambulance and spent several days on a ventilator.
A brain scan later revealed Baucham “had sustained a brain injury and had bleeding in the brain,” the lawsuit said. Baucham has no memory of the second half of the game, according to his lawsuit.
Baucham, a fifth-year senior in 2012, didn’t play for the Trojans again. The lawsuit also claims USC attempted to revoke Baucham’s scholarship after his injury, but Baucham and his family fought the school until he graduated.
The lawsuit doesn’t name an amount of damages Baucham is seeking.
USC athletic director Pat Haden issued a statement Monday night.
“It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment on this lawsuit, and due to privacy laws we cannot comment on the specifics of this case,” Haden said. “I will say that I am confident that we provide excellent medical treatment to our student athletes and that their health is always our primary concern ahead of any athletic competition.”
Baucham was a backup defensive back at USC in 2009 and 2010, but was ruled academically ineligible for the 2011 season.
Kiffin was fired in 2013 after going 28-15 in 3 1-2 seasons at USC. He was hired as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in January.
Former USC tailback Stafon Johnson sued the school and a former assistant strength coach for negligence in 2011, 16 months after Johnson’s throat was crushed in a weightlifting accident. The suit was settled in January 2012.
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