Student-athlete Stafon Johnson, a senior member of the USC football team during the 2009 season, recently filed a personal injury lawsuit against USC, its former strength and conditioning coach Jamie Yanchar, and numerous unnamed “Doe” defendants, alleging negligence in connection with a serious injury he sustained in 2009 while training with the team.
Johnson was injured on September 28, 2009 at approximately 11:00am in the university’s weight room, as he participated in mandatory strength and conditioning training as part of his membership on the team. At the time, defendant Yanchar allegedly agreed to “spot” Johnson as he attempted a 275-pound benchpress, the usual amount of weight he lifted. However, Johnson alleges the scenario in which Yanchar’s negligence caused his injuries: (1) Yanchar was not “paying attention to Mr. Johnson at the time that the bar was being lifted from the weight rack” and paying attention to the other occupants of the room; and/or (2) Yanchar was distracted and was not paying attention to Johnson, “he failed to take notice that, as the bar was being lifted from the rack, Mr. Johnson was not then ready to take hold of and lift the bar”; and/or (3) as the bar was being placed into Johnson’s hands, “Yanchar hit the bar with his own body before Mr. Johnson had a grip on the bar with both of his hands” (as a result of his inattention); and/or (4) “because Yanchar struck the bar, while Johnson was attempting to get the bar settled into both hands and thus was not ready to safely grasp the bar on his own, the bar was knocked off balance…and fell directly onto Mr. Johnson’s neck.”
In a news conference following the filing of the suit, Johnson’s attorney, Carl Douglas, cleared up the allegations by stating that, “What we say occurred is that the bar was basically knocked out of his hand, causing it to fall on Stafon’s neck, almost causing him to die,” Douglas said. “We think for that, those that are responsible should be held responsible for their actions.”
In his complaint filed with the Superior Court of California at Los Angeles, Johnson alleges that his injuries, which include “a laryngeal fracture and an acute airway obstruction secondary to blunt neck trauma, resulting in his voice box being crushed with the upper portion being separated from the lower portion, and the majority of the lining of the larynx being degloved, all of which required micro-surgical reconstruction and repair,” were the result of Yanchar’s negligent supervision, and also holds USC responsible because Yanchar was acting within the scope of his employment at the time.
Johnson is seeking an unspecified amount in damages, covering general damages including compensation for pain and suffering, and special damages including past and future medical expenses and surgeries and loss of past and future earnings. As a result of his injury, Johnson initially underwent seven hours of surgery to repair his larynx.
It has been inferred that Johnson and his attorney had tried to reach a private settlement with the university prior to filing suit, but to no avail. Douglas told the press, “”As you could imagine, there have been efforts in the past to resolve this matter quietly and informally. Regrettably, they were not successful, so we were left with no other option but to file this lawsuit.”
USC responded publicly to the suit in a statement on January 24. “USC firmly believes it was not at fault in Stafon Johnson’s unfortunate weightlifting accident,” the university said. “We are sorry that Stafon was injured. USC and the entire Trojan Family have been exceptionally supportive of Stafon from the minute the accident occurred. We are disappointed to learn that Stafon has decided to file a lawsuit against USC.”
Johnson still thinks fondly of USC, despite his injuries. “This lawsuit does not in any way reduce my love for the cardinal and gold,” Johnson said at the news conference on January 24. “I was injured, and I feel that if others had been careful, this injury would have been avoided.” The neck injury ended Johnson’s college career, but he was able to participate in the NFL draft, whereupon the Titans signed him as an undrafted free agent. However, Johnson sustained a severe leg injury in the preseason, dislocating his right ankle.
Jamie Yanchar is now with former USC coach Pete Carroll at the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. He declined comment when contacted by ESPN this week.
