Former LSU Tigers safety Greg Brooks is suing the university and medical center for negligence after an operation for a brain tumor which was discovered last fall, according to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo.
Brooks, who was a team captain in 2023, is accusing the coaches of not taking action and the trainers for misdiagnosing him and refusing to refer him to a neurological specialist.
According to court filings, Brooks claims he is suffering from “catastrophic neurological injuries” and is “permanently disabled” from the brain surgery performed at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge.
Brooks also claims he has suffered “multiple strokes” following the surgery, alleging it stems from acts of medical malpractice.
The lawsuit states Brooks will “likely need care for the rest of his life” due to paralysis after he was diagnosed with posterior fossa syndrome which he alleges is a “direct result of the neurosurgeons’ malpractice.”
Posterior fossa syndrome impacts speech, motor skills, and behavior.
Brooks states the coaching staff at LSU encouraged him to play while he was ill and threatened to take his starting position away if he did not suit up. Head coach Brian Kelly is named in the suit, alongside then-defensive coordinator Matt House (now with the Jacksonville Jaguars) and then-safeties coach Kerry Cooks who is now a defensive analyst at Rice.
LSU released a statement after the filing, stating, “While LSU cannot comment on ongoing litigation, Greg Brooks remains in our thoughts and prayers as he continues to work through the rehabilitation process. Since the beginning of our agreement with our Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake, they have provided exceptional medical care for our student-athletes in all of our sports.”
Brooks spent three seasons at Arkansas before transferring to LSU for the 2022 season, where he appeared in 14 games and had 66 combined tackles and two interceptions.
He appeared in just two games in 2023 before he was examined by a neurologist – 39 days after he experienced symptoms – and was immediately sent to the hospital for emergency surgery.