NEW ORLEANS – A St. Tammany man is suing several boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts companies after being severely injured in a mixed technique competition.
Toby Wiley filed a lawsuit against Louisiana State Boxing and Wrestling Commission, Raxx LLC, Gladiators Academy LLC, James Georgetown and David “Jaw Breaker” Lee in the Orleans Parish Central District Court on Feb. 15.
Wiley, a young, inexperienced fighter was approached by defendants to participate in an amateur mixed martial arts event in which he was told he would be paired with someone with comparable training and experience as himself, according to the suit.
The plaintiff claims the defendants were involved in an incident in which he was wrongfully and intentionally paired with a 23-year-old experienced fighter/kick boxer. Wiley suffered traumatic bodily injury in the first round of the competition against the experienced fighter, the suit claims.
The defendants are accused of misrepresenting defendant David Lee’s level of experience, age and training, failing to ascertain Toby Wiley’s level of training and experience prior to pairing him with a more experienced and trained fighter, failing to prepare the plaintiff for fight, failing to follow safety and regulation rules, failing to train and properly supervise employees, failing to supervise the wrestling event, improperly matching contestants and exposing plaintiff to hazardous and dangerous conditions.
An unspecified amount is sought for the injury plaintiff sustained to his neck, head, brain, spinal cord, face and jaw and all medical expenses.
Attorney John H. Smith of Baton Rouge-based Smith & Shanklin will represent plaintiff.
This case has been assigned to Division N Judge Ethel S. Julien.
Case no. 2013-01473
Brutally injured boxer sues Louisiana State Boxing & Wrestling Commission
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