BJJ Injury Lawsuit Reaches $56 Million Verdict
A judge presiding over the BJJ injury lawsuit case in California has just reached a verdict. The judge has awarded a former BJJ student $46,475,112.33 in damages and a final compensation of $56 million.
If you don’t remember this case, in 2018, Jack Greener suffered a catastrophic spinal injury that left him a quadriplegic.
The reckless accident occurred at Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club when Greener was training with head instructor Francisco Iturralde.
According to court records, the injury happened after the instructor came down with his full bodyweight on Greene’s neck during a sparring session.
This move crushed the vertebrae in the victim’s neck, leaving him with permanent injuries.
The Largest BJJ Injury Verdict In History Sets Precedent
This was the largest BJJ injury verdict in history and the biggest injury verdict in the state of California. Precedent has now been set for injuries sustained while training or competing in Jiu-Jitsu.
“The final appellate court’s ruling cements a critical legal victory not only for our client, but also for injured athletes across California by reaffirming that sports instructors and facilities may be held accountable when they unreasonably increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport.”– Rahul Ravipuldi, Greene’s Attorney.
BJJ academies in California and likely the rest of the US may now be open to similar legal action.
The verdict from this BJJ injury case should be a wake-up call to academy owners and instructors.
Many academies have little to no oversight when it comes to measures of precaution, safety, and accountability.
Martial arts training is not without risks, but as gyms continue to grow, oversight and common sense practices must be put into practice.
Bobby is martial artist for almost 20 years with a BJJ black belt under Professor Sergio Miranda. He is also a karate black and former combat sports athlete, who loves all things grappling.