Former USC cornerback Brian Baucham sued the university and former coach Lane Kiffin on Monday, alleging he was forced to play with a concussion and suffered a brain injury as a result.
Baucham filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. He is seeking unspecified damages.
According to the complaint, the former West Torrance High School standout initially agreed to play college football at Washington State, but was persuaded by Kiffin’s predecessor, Pete Carroll, to attend USC.
Baucham, who suffered a concussion in July 2012, was cleared on Sept. 20 of that year to play in the Trojans’ Sept. 22 game against California, according to the suit. However, that evening he felt ill and went to a USC health clinic with nausea and a 103-degree temperature, his suit says.
“The medical staff told him that he was in no condition to play football that day or the following day,” the complaint says.
The coaching staff nevertheless directed him to play in the game two days later, even though USC was leading Cal handily, the suit states.
Baucham says he was twice given intravenous fluids but collapsed during the middle of the fourth quarter and was carted to the locker room.
“Suddenly, plaintiff started coughing up copious amounts of fluid and blood,” according to the lawsuit.
Baucham’s parents were present in the locker room and saw him having trouble breathing, the suit says.
He was later taken by ambulance to USC Keck Medical Center, where a CT scan showed he sustained a brain injury with bleeding into the brain, according to the suit.
“He was never able to return to the football field at the collegiate level and will never be able to pursue a career in the NFL,” the suit states.
The Trojans defeated the Golden Bears, 27-9, in the Sept, 22, 2012, game. Prior to that date, Kiffin “had demonstrated a proclivity for not disclosing injuries or health conditions of student athletes,” the suit states.
USC athletic director Pat Haden said “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.
“I will say that I am confident that we provide excellent medical treatment to our student-athletes and that their health is our primary concern ahead of any athletic competition,” Haden said.
Kiffin was fired early on Sept. 29, 2013, hours after a 62-41 loss to Arizona State dropped the Trojans’ record to 3-2. He is now Alabama’s offensive coordinator.
