Court ruling to force former USC RB Reggie Bush to pay $1.4 million to Lloyd Lake

It has been a long sequence of events for Reggie Bush since his time at USC. For the Heisman Trophy winner, the latest chapter between him and Lloyd Lake will prove to be a costly one.

As reported by LA Times reporter Ryan Kartje, Bush will be forced to pay $1.4 million to Lake from a lawsuit that started approximately two years ago. This is not, of course, the first time the two men saw something significant decided in court between them.

This one is the result of an anti-defamation suit that was brought forth by Lake and his family after Bush spoke about the New Era Sports & Entertainment co-founder.

Unfortunately for Bush, the result of the 2010 lawsuit included a non-disparagement agreement. This meant that neither party was allowed to speak ill or say/suggest anything that could be seen or interpreted in a negative light.

In 2022, Bush spoke about Lake during a podcast, electing to share his perspective that would then include further accusations in a social media post. Following the release of that episode, the home of Lake's parents, Roy and Barbara Gunner, was vandalized. 

Effect on former USC running back

Now, a year from when this latest case was initially brought to court, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Eric Harmon has reinforced the initial ruling of the arbitrator of the current proceeding, Jeffrey G. Benz, and Bush will have to pay the sum for damages, as well as Lake's court costs.

This latest decision was the final attempt of Bush's legal team. They unsuccessfully attempted to make the case that Benz had overstepped in his role. According to the judgment of Judge Eric Harmon, that has not been deemed to be the case.