Advertisement

Lawsuit from ex-Louisville player against Charlie Strong thrown out

(AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)
(AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

A lawsuit filed against Charlie Strong during his time as head coach at Louisville was thrown out.

Former Louisville player Patrick Grant sued Strong and the school in 2012, claiming the coach reneged on an agreement to allow Grant’s scholarship to extend through graduate school after he was injured in an October 2010 assault by two teammates.

According to the Courier-Journal, Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Susan Schultz Gibson dismissed the suit last month, ruling that “the university and Strong were protected by sovereign immunity, which shields the state from liability except in some circumstances.”

A trial in the case had been scheduled for January.

Per the Courier-Journal, Grant was assaulted by twins Isaac and Jacob Geffrad and suffered serious injuries to his left eye and face that required surgery. He tried to return to the team in as a fifth-year senior in 2011, but suffered a concussion from a hard hit during practice and was medically advised not to return to football.

Grant said that Strong promised his scholarship would continue for graduate school.

From the Courier-Journal:

Grant, who graduated and registered for a graduate program in justice administration, alleged that Strong promised his scholarship would cover his expenses and that Strong breached that promise by taking it away so he could sign another player.

But Grant had no witnesses or documentation to support his claim.

In a deposition, Strong said once Grant graduated in December 2011 – and was no longer playing – the university's obligation to him was over.

Strong, now the head coach at Texas, was expected to testify in the trial.

In her 19-page written opinion, Gibson said that Grant had no way to prove the alleged agreement with Strong and Louisville.

- - - - - - -

Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!