St. Louis City Jury Returns $12.5 Million, Including Punitive Damages for Leg Injury to Professional Football Running Back Reggie Bush

Reginald Bush a/k/a Reggie Bush, a former Heisman Trophy winner, had a successful professional football career and was named as starting running back for the San Francisco 49ers. While he was playing against the then St. Louis Rams at Edward Jones Dome in 2005, whose turf playing field was surrounded by a slippery concrete surface, Bush ran out of bounds while returning a punt and slid on the slippery surface, falling awkwardly. As the play ended, and while trying to slow down, Bush slipped on the concrete and suffered a left lateral meniscus tear.

Reggie Bush required surgery and extensive rehabilitation and did not return to play that season. Although Bush subsequently obtained a one-year contract with a different team, he was unable to play. He has not signed another professional football contract. Now he is 33 years old and still has problems with his left knee.

Bush sued the Los Angeles Rams LLC , alleging it was responsible for the St. Louis Rams LLC’s failure to warn of and fix a dangerous condition at the Edward Jones Dome.

Bush charged that the St. Louis Rams should have covered the slippery surface with padding as it had done on the concrete leading from the locker room to the field, especially after another player had skidded on the concrete the week before Bush was injured.

Bush asserted that had he not been injured, he would have obtained a free agency contract worth between $6 million and $13.5 million. He did not claim medical expenses.

The St. Louis City Circuit Court jury signed a verdict for $12.5 million including $7.5 million in punitive damages.

Unfortunately for St. Louis Rams’ fans, the team relocated to Los Angeles after the 2015 football season.

The attorneys successfully representing Reggie Bush were John G. Simon, Timothy M. Cronin, Kevin M. Carnie Jr., Shawn Holley, Jeremiah Reynolds and Nick Soltman.

Bush v. St. Louis Regional Convention & Sports Complex Authority, No. 1622-CC00013 (Mo. Cir. Ct. St. Louis City, June 12, 2018).

Kreisman Law Offices has been handling catastrophic injury lawsuits, premises liability cases and product liability defect lawsuits for individuals, families and loved ones who have been injured, harmed or killed by the carelessness or negligence of another for more than 40 years in and around Chicago, Cook County and its surrounding areas, including Crestwood, Forest Park, Park Forest, Park Ridge, Highwood, Cicero, Berwyn, Burbank, Palos Heights, Wheaton, Western Springs, Westchester, Riverdale, Harvey, Orland Park, Chicago (Washington Heights, Roseland, Pullman, Back of the Yards, Lake Calumet, South Deering, Calumet Heights, Grand Crossing, Woodlawn, Jackson Park, Canaryville, Stockyards, Little Italy, Ukrainian Village, Humboldt Park), Franklin Park, Frankfort, Schiller Park, Schaumburg, Villa Park and Wood Dale, Ill.

Robert D. Kreisman has been an active member of the Illinois and Missouri bars since 1976.