| bbfan1991 |
05-01-2011 11:33 PM |
An Indiana man has filed a lawsuit against World Wrestling Entertainment, specifically naming former wrestler Dwayne Johnson, known as “The Rock,” and wrestler Paul Levesque, known as “Triple H,” claiming he suffered injuries at a wrestling event in Louisville more than a decade ago when he was 7 years old.
An attorney for Ronald Basham III, who now is 18, filed the suit in Jefferson Circuit Court on Monday alleging Basham's right leg and knee were injured at the May 21, 2000, professional wrestling match billed as “Judgment Day.”
Basham, of Clarksville, Ind., claims he was taken to the event at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center by his mother and sat near the ring. At one point, according to the lawsuit, Levesque and Johnson left the ring, went over a retaining wall separating them from the audience and continued wrestling near where Basham was located.
As the wrestlers pushed and shoved each other, one collided with an audience member, then shoved that person into the audience toward Basham. The lawsuit alleges that Johnson then pushed that same spectator again into a woman, causing her to fall on Basham, causing his injuries.
The lawsuit accuses the WWE of failing to properly stage the match and provide adequate security for its customers. Both Johnson and Levesque are accused of “reckless, willful and wanton conduct.”
Basham is seeking a jury trial and compensatory and punitive damages.
Harris Berman, an attorney for Basham, said that because of Basham's age at the time of the injury, the lawsuit is not prohibited by the statute of limitations. Basham has been to various doctors over the years concerning his leg and recently had surgery, spurring him to file the lawsuit, Berman said.
Claims made in filing a lawsuit present only one side of the case.
Justine Sacco, a spokeswoman for WWE, said “we take all these matters very seriously but as a policy don't comment on pending litigation.”
She said Levesque, who is still with WWE, also would have no comment.
Johnson, who is no longer associated with WWE, could not be reached for comment. An e-mail to his publicist was not immediately returned, nor was a call to his foundation.
|
