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The Indiana Supreme Court will consider a lawsuit filed by Olympian Taliyah Brooks against USA Track & Field after suffering from heat-related issues while competing in the 2021 U.S. Olympic Heptathlon Trials in Eugene, Oregon.
USA Track & Field appealed to the high court to object to an Indiana Court of Appeals’ ruling that allowed Brooks’ amended lawsuit to move forward. Previously, Marion Superior Court Judge Patrick Dietrick had rejected the amended complaint.
While the appeals court ruling allowed the Brooks’ claim of gross negligence to move forward, it noted that an indemnity agreement athletes must sign protects USA Track & Field from many other liability claims.
Brooks’ counsel argued before the state appellate court last year that USA Track & Field could have prevented Brooks’ injuries by moving the event later in the day to take advantage of cooler temperatures as it has done for other events.
William Bock, a partner at Kroger Gardis & Regas, represents Brooks responded, “On behalf of U.S. Olympian Taliyah Brooks, we appreciate the Indiana Supreme Court’s interest in this important case regarding whether USA Track & Field can escape its duty to protect the wellbeing of U.S. athletes.”
Attorney Crystal Rowe, who is representing USA Track & Field, did not respond to The Indiana Lawyer’s requests for comment.
Now, the Indiana Supreme Court will review the case, which is Taliyah Brooks v. USA Track & Field Inc., 25S-PL-103.
Since 2021, Brooks has continued her track and field career, qualifying for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and finishing in 11th place overall in the heptathlon.
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