Reggie Bush case postponed until Aug. 1

The civil lawsuit against Reggie Bush and his parents has been put on hold until Aug. 1, when a San Diego judge will consider a motion by Bush’s attorneys to settle the case through arbitration.

This latest bout of legal footwork postponed a Thursday deposition of Lloyd Lake, who is suing the New Orleans Saints running back over an alleged business partnership that Lake claims began when Bush was still playing for USC.

NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference officials want to know if Bush received improper benefits from the erstwhile sports marketing agency while in school, which would be a violation of rules. If the former tailback is ruled ineligible, the Trojans football program could face sanctions.

Transcripts from depositions of Lake, Bush and others could play an important role in the investigation.

David Cornwell and Bush’s other attorneys prompted yet another delay in the process by claiming the case must go to arbitration under provisions of an earlier settlement between Bush’s parents and Lake’s former business partner, Michael Michaels.

Michaels was scheduled to be deposed Monday, with Bush and his parents following soon after.

“It’s frivolous,” Lake’s attorney, Brian Watkins, said of the motion. “It’s just another delay tactic.”

 david.wharton@latimes.com