Many young basketball players dream of one day playing in the NBA. For our 18-year-old client, that dream was actually within reach. As a high school basketball star in California, he had college coaches watching his every move and dozens of offers from major universities across the country. He was even listed as one of the top 50 high school basketball players in the United States.
But, during his senior year of high school, his dreams of playing basketball at any level were shattered. While he was on his way to visit a friend’s grandparents, a tire on the SUV he was driving suffered a tread and belt separation causing the vehicle to lose control and rollover on the highway. Our client sustained a traumatic brain injury which impaired his mobility and vision. As a result of his injuries, he is no longer able to play competitive basketball.
Much of this case centered on our client’s loss of future income and earning ability. He had planned on a career in basketball by playing in college and ultimately in the NBA. Attorneys Joseph J. Reiter, Donald R. Fountain & W. Hampton Keen retained professional basketball coaches and scouting experts to testify that our client likely would have been drafted into the NBA and would have earned a substantial income as a professional basketball player.
Reiter, Fountain & Keen settled the case confidentially with the auto and tire manufacturers on behalf of their client.