Former Washington player suing school, coaches and trainers over alleged medical negligence

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Former Washington running back Emeka Megwa has filed a civil lawsuit against the school and nine former members of its coaching, sports medicine, training and physical therapy staff, claiming that the school’s mismanagement of his recovery from an ACL surgery resulted in a second ACL tear in the same leg.

As detailed by the Seattle Times, Megwa originally tore the ACL in his left leg in the summer of 2021 while preparing to play his senior year for Timber Creek High School, near Fort Worth, Texas. Megwa then reclassified to enroll at Washington for the fall of 2021 so that he could rehab under the school’s care, which, the lawsuit states, was handled well by Jimmy Lake’s staff.

However, Lake was fired in the fall of 2021, and the breakdown came when Kalen DeBoer’s staff came in that winter.

Per the lawsuit, Megwa was pressured to participate in workouts in January 2022, months ahead of schedule. UW Medical Center’s Dr. Albert Gee told Megwa on Jan. 13 he was not cleared to return, but was back in workouts days later and began reporting shin pain by Jan. 22.

From the Seattle Times:

On Feb. 1, Megwa was doing a lateral shuffling drill and felt a sharp pain in his left knee. A quick on-field evaluation by UW trainers determined all ligaments including the ACL felt stable. According to the lawsuit, Megwa continued to report knee pain and swelling in his left knee throughout the month, but was given painkillers.

During this time, the running back claims he was berated and ridiculed in front of his teammates for being unable to participate. The complaint alleges he was told to “drop your (expletive) nuts and get on the (expletive) line, that’s some pussy ass shit.”

Megwa learned he’d suffered a second tear, along with lateral and medial meniscus tears, on March 7. He underwent surgery back home in Texas, and entered the Portal on Aug. 2, 2022. He missed the 2022 season and appeared in two games as a walk-on at Oklahoma last fall.

Financial terms sought by Megwa were not disclosed, per Washington state law, and no individuals were named in the Times.

“The main thing he wants is to prevent this from happening to other student athletes,” Megwa’s attorney Andrew Ackley said. “When there’s a major reconstructive surgery, the surgeons should be the ones saying what these athletes should be available to do, not trainers or coaches.”

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