As USC's Troubles Grow, Lawsuit Against Reggie Bush Inches Forward

Lloyd Lake understood his civil suit against former Southern Cal running back and 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush and his family could be a long and arduous legal process. The suit over alleged benefits remains unsettled since it was filed in San Diego County Court in October 2007.

Tuesday's news that NCAA investigators appear to be building a case to show that USC has demonstrated a lack of institutional control and failure to monitor some aspects of its football and men's basketball programs did not surprise San Diego attorney Brian Watkins, a lawyer for Lake.

"I think it shows Reggie Bush wasn't just one bad apple," Watkins told FanHouse Wednesday morning. "What's going on certainly doesn't bode well for USC."

A former associate of NBA star O.J. Mayo says that USC basketball coach Tim Floyd paid a man who helped get Mayo to play for the Trojans, Yahoo! Sports reported on Tuesday. The news organization further detailed how this alleged incident was part of a combined NCAA probe into the alleged illegal benefits reportedly received by Bush and Mayo while at USC.

The probe began in April 2006 and intensified after Yahoo! Sports reported allegations of improper benefits received by Bush and his family. Lake, a partner in failed sports marketing agency New Era Sports & Entertainment, has alleged he helped give Bush and Bush's family nearly $300,000 in benefits when Bush still was at USC.

Lake met with NCAA investigators Rich Johanningmeier and Angie Cretors on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007 in the Pasadena law office of Paul Wong, also an attorney for Lake. Lake submitted to a wide range of questions during the six-hour session, in addition to turning over documents and listening to excerpts of the recorded conversations between himself, Reggie Bush and Bush's stepfather, LaMar Griffin.

For the first time, the NCAA had the key witness to its investigation into whether Bush had violated eligibility rules.

Lake also has contended that USC coaches knew of the financial relationship he had with Bush. Lake was unavailable for further comment on Wednesday. Bush, entering his third season with the New Orleans Saints, has denied these allegations.

Watkins said that USC last November requested interviews with Lake and family members as part of the NCAA investigation. However, the school never followed up on its request.

"I responded three times by letter and also telephoned but we never heard a word," Watkins said. "USC has my number."

USC officials have declined to comment on the NCAA investigation.

It was believed at that time the NCAA was close to ruling Bush retroactively ineligible for violating NCAA rules, pending additional pieces of evidence. If that happened, USC might have to forfeit games and Bush could lose his Heisman.

Watkins said that Lake's contentious civil suit against Bush continues to inch forward. The two sides have been in San Diego Court numerous times without reaching a conclusion.

Last November, Judge Joan Lewis ruled that Lake should be granted $24,570 in attorneys' fee stemming from an earlier motion they had won. Bush's attorneys appealed with the rest of Bush's pending appeal, which ultimately seeks to have the case determined in confidential arbitration instead of public court. Their appeal could be pending through much of this year unless there is a settlement.



An out-of-court settlement could affect NCAA investigators who want to know whether Bush received cash and gifts from Lake and his former partner, Michael Michaels, while in college. (Bush had previously reached a settlement with Michaels for reportedly $300,000).

If the case with Lake is settled before a trial or even pretrial depositions, investigators won't have potentially valuable evidence resulting from sworn testimony.

"Lloyd is doing well," Watkins said. "He is a patient man. "He knew that getting his day in court could be a long process. If Reggie really wanted the truth to come out like he has claimed he too would want his day in court rather intentionally delaying the proceedings."

Don Yaeger and Jim Henry co-authored "Tarnished Heisman: Did Reggie Bush turn his final college season into a six-figure job?" The book was published in January 2008.