$50 Million in Claims Filed for Paralyzed Player

An attorney for Jason Knight, a 15-year-old Torrance High School football player who was paralyzed during a game last year, has filed $50 million in claims against the state, the city of Torrance and the Torrance Unified School District.

The three claims, filed simultaneously on March 1, charge that “unknown . . . public employees” were responsible for Jason’s Sept. 7 injury, which left him a quadriplegic. The sophomore team’s football coach, Bill Bynum, “may be partially responsible,” the claims allege.

Bynum, who started a fund-raising drive for Jason that so far has raised $20,000, said he was not aware that any legal claims had been filed but said the action will not change his close relationship with Jason’s family.

Jason’s mother, Carole Smith, said she knew that the claims were about to be filed but did not know the amount or that Bynum would be named.

Attorney James Rainboldt said the claims, which had to be filed by March 7, are required before a lawsuit may be filed against a public agency.

“I want you to emphasize that we are not interested in making things difficult for Mr. Bynum, but the claims statute requires that you do certain things,” Rainboldt said. “From all I hear, Mr. Bynum is a fine man and we’re not trying to discourage people like him who are involved with youth.”

Bynum, an engineer for Hughes, said he does not believe the legal charges are a personal attack against him.

“I had kind of had an assumption that they may, at some point, have to do something like this, depending on how (Jason) improved” after the accident, Bynum said. “I don’t believe Carole or her family or anybody that I’ve ever coached has ever made any implication that I didn’t . . . teach the right way.”

City and state officials denied liability for Jason’s injuries, saying they would direct Rainboldt to the school district.

“It’s not unusual for someone to file a claim against the biggest entity and sometimes the wrong entity,” said Kathy Keane, an assistant to the Torrance city manager.

School district officials did not return calls seeking comment on the claim.

Jason was injured six minutes into his first game for the Torrance High School sophomore team when he made a tackle against a South High School player.

Jason’s head was caught in an awkward position, crushing his fifth vertebra, which compressed and caused his spine to swell.

He spent several months lying flat on his back at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, but recently has been able to spend the day sitting in a wheelchair and has shown minimal ability to move his right arm, Smith said.

Doctors “are still saying the same thing--whatever movement he gets back, that’s what he’ll get back,” Smith said. “In other words, they still don’t know what to expect.”

Smith said she decided to get legal advice when she realized that Jason will soon need full-time home care.

“Jason’s going to have a lot of needs. I was just really seeking to find out if there was any liability,” she said. “I don’t really know (who is at fault). My interest in this whole thing is that Jason is protected.”