KTVU Reports on Lawsuit Filed Against UC Board of Regents by Attorney Elinor Leary

In an in-depth story reported by KTVU, Elinor Leary filed a lawsuit against the UC Board of Regents on behalf of Madison Stockton, a former member of the UC Berkeley women’s crew team, alleging that she suffered a back injury because her former coach did not train or supervise her during a weightlifting session that involved a heavy and technically difficult lift.

“The bar was weighted in September 2014 was about 85 to 90 pounds,” said Leary. “To Maddie, who had never done strength and conditioning in high school, she wasn’t familiar with the proper technique and had never been demonstrated the proper technique by the coach.”

The suit alleges fraud, breach of contract and negligent hiring against three Cal women’s crew coaches who were involved with Stockton’s training when she injured her back during a weightlifting session in 2014. Stockton was diagnosed with a herniated disc, and lost access to student-athlete medical services after she was cut from the team.

“If she became injured as a division one athlete at Cal, they would provide services, doctors, and medical treatment to take care of her and heal,” said Leary. “They didn’t do that.”

View full KTVU story.