Morelli Law Firm filed suit on October 13 on behalf of professional tennis player Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard.
The suit pursues relief related to ongoing problems experienced by Ms. Bouchard as a result of a fall that occurred in the physiotherapy room of the women’s locker room due to defendant’s negligence, where she sustained a severe head injury. Bouchard’s injuries forced her to withdraw entirely from the 2015 U.S. Open, where she was still in contention for championships in the women’s singles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles brackets. Her injury also caused her to withdraw from several subsequent tournaments in the Japan, Beijing, Hong Kong, Wuhan and Tokyo opens.
Bouchard, a budding superstar, was ranked No. 5 in the world in 2014 is now ranked 39, down from 35 earlier this year. Ms. Bouchard is endorsed by several major companies such as Nike, Babolat, Rolex and Diet Coke.
The Complaint, filed in the Eastern District of New York Federal Court, sets forth claims of against both the US Tennis Association and the UTSA National Tennis Center. Among the allegations are that the defendants failed to properly maintain physiotherapy room where the fall occurred, failed to warn or notify Ms. Bouchard of the dangerous condition in the physiotherapy room, and allowed a dangerous condition to exist which caused Ms. Bouchard to slip and fall and sustain severe injuries.
Ms. Bouchard who was named the WTA’s Most Improved Player after the conclusion of the 2014 tennis season and who qualified as Runner-Up at Wimbledon in 2014, played alongside Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova in the 2014 WTA Finals. She is known for her aggressive style and capricious advances, which have won her many points. The fall occurred after her first-round in mixed doubles precluded her from continuing this season.
The twenty-one year old Bouchard continues to endure pain and suffering from the fall and cites a loss of income and diminished quality of life as a result of the accident.
The case is entitled Bouchard v. USTA, Inc. et al. The full Complaint can be read here.
Benedict Morelli’s full statement to the NY Times regarding the case can be read here.