Bouchard to Sue USTA After Fall at U.S. Open
Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard has filed a lawsuit against the USTA, accusing the organization of negligence based on her slip and fall at the U.S. Open that left her with a concussion.
Since the incident, which happened back on Sept. 4, has dealt with pain and economic loss as a result of her inability to play in tournaments, and the lawsuit says she is seeking unspecified monetary damages.
In the suit, Bouchard alleges that her fall was caused by “a slippery, foreign and dangerous substance on the floor”. Bouchard’s lawyer, Benedict Morelli, says that the substance was a cleaning agent meant to be used overnight, but after Bouchard came back in following a mixed-doubles match that ended late, the substance was on the floor causing Bouchard’s fall.
“If they were going to do that, they should have closed the door and blocked it off,” Morelli told the New York Times. “And they didn’t do that.”
The fall would lead to a concussion for Bouchard, who would be forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open, and has had her ranking continue to drop since.
“Ms. Bouchard entered the physiotherapy room of the women’s locker room when she was caused to slip and fall by a slippery, foreign and dangerous substance on the floor,” the suit goes on to allege.
Morelli said Bouchard is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.
Chris Widmaier, the USTA’s managing director of corporate communications, had no comment and said it is the policy of the organization to not comment on active litigation.
