Thaindian News

By Meena Kar
Jan 25, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Stafon Johnson, the former USC running back is yet to recover from the trauma that nearly brought his flourishing career to a sudden halt. The former US running back whose throat crushed in 2009 due to what he calls as sheer negligence in weight-room has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the university and an assistant conditioning coach on Monday. According to sources, the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior court seeks unspecified damages. The mishap took place in September 2009 in a weight-room where Stafon Johnson was bench-pressing 275 pounds. The bar allegedly ‘knocked out’ of his hand thereby crushing his throat and larynx. He had to undergo a reconstructive surgery following the tumultuous incident.

The assistant strength and conditioning coach Jamie Yanchar whom Stafon Johnson holds responsible for negligence, has been named in the lawsuit. Inside sources reveal that the lawsuit claims that Jamie Yanchar ‘was distracted and was not paying enough attention to Mr.Johnson at the time when the bar was lifted from the weight track”. Apparently, Stafon Johnson who was lifting the bar of a hefty 275 founds for the first time.

Stafon Johnson’s attorney Carl Douglas in a press conference on Monday stated that the bar did not slip off but it was rather ‘knocked out’ from Stafon Johnson’s hands before crushing his throat. The lawsuit also claims that Stafon Johnson suffered permanent injuries and loss of future earnings. On the other hand the university claims that it was just a mere accident and they are extremely disappointed that the former USC running back had to file a lawsuit against them. Jamie Yanchar who is now employed by the Seattle Seahawks was unavailable for any comments.