Reggie Bush Wins $12.5M for 2015 NFL Injury

Case Summary

In 2015, former NFL running back Reggie Bush suffered a knee injury during a game at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis when he was pushed out of bounds and slipped on an exposed concrete slab bordering the field. He tore his meniscus during the fall. Bush filed a personal injury lawsuit against the Los Angeles Rams (then the St. Louis Rams) in 2016, arguing the team, which was responsible for maintaining the facility and making it safe on game days, failed to protect players from a known hazard. Simon Law attorney Tim Cronin represented Bush.

Key Highlights

• Weeks before Bush’s injury, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown slid into the same concrete slab and injured his shoulder. This established that the Rams knew about the hazard before Bush was hurt.
• The area was covered with rubber padding just two weeks after Bush’s injury, underscoring how easily preventable the harm had been.
• Jurors reviewed footage of the incident, evidence of Bush’s career trajectory, medical testimony regarding the extent of his injury and its impact, and extensive testimony of those responsible for the safety of the facility.
• A St. Louis jury found the Rams completely liable for Bush’s injury.

Case Analysis

The case hinged on demonstrating that the hazard was both known and avoidable. The McCown incident was critical evidence because it showed that the Rams knew about the danger posed by the exposed concrete, undercutting any argument that Bush’s injury was an unforeseeable accident inherent to the game. The rapid installation of rubber padding shortly after Bush’s injury further reinforced that a simple, low-cost fix was available and feasible all along.

Outcome/ Impact

The jury awarded Bush $4.95 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages, totaling $12.5 million. The case was about more than Bush’s own injury, emphasizing broader player safety concerns in a sport that is already inherently brutal.

For more information about this case, contact Tim Cronin at tcronin@simonlawpc.com

Additional Information:

McCann, Michael. June 13, 2018. Sports Illustrated. Reggie Bush’s Trial Win vs. Rams Could Be Precedent for More Athletes Filing Injury Lawsuits. https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/06/13/reggie-bush-rams-injury-lawsuit-edward-jones-dome\

ESPN News Services. June 12, 2018. Jury orders Rams to pay Reggie Bush $12.5M for 2015 injury. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23773883/los-angeles-rams-ordered-pay-reggie-bush-125m-injury

Clancy, Sam. June 12, 2018. Rams ordered to pay $12.45M in Reggie Bush lawsuit. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/rams-ordered-to-pay-1245m-in-reggie-bush-lawsuit/63-563841712