Update on Former Arkansas Razorback’s LSU Lawsuit

On Jan. 6, 2022, Arkansas Razorback fans were hit with disappointing news: starting defensive back Greg Brooks Jr. announced his entry into the transfer portal, just a day after team captain Joe Foucha made the same decision. Both players chose to return to their home state of Louisiana and suit up for Arkansas’ bitter rival, LSU. At the time, this was a hard pill to swallow for Razorback fans, as college football’s transfer portal was still a relatively new and painful reality.

For Brooks, however, what started as a dream come true quickly turned into a nightmare. Just a season after transferring, Brooks was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. His road to recovery has been anything but smooth, and now, the former Razorback and LSU captain is taking legal action against his university and medical team, alleging negligence and medical malpractice.

The Lawsuit Against LSU and Medical Staff In August 2024, Brooks filed a 13-page lawsuit in East Baton Rouge Parish, accusing multiple LSU staff members and the surgeon who performed his brain surgery of negligence. According to the lawsuit, Brooks claims LSU’s coaching staff pressured him to continue practicing despite experiencing worsening symptoms, which delayed critical medical treatment.

Brooks’ legal team states that when he finally underwent an MRI in September 2023, the scan revealed a brain tumor. By then, Brooks’ health had significantly deteriorated. The lawsuit argues that team trainers misdiagnosed his condition as vertigo, delaying neurological intervention for 39 days. This delay, according to Brooks, led to more severe complications.

During his surgery at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, performed by Dr. Brandon Gaynor, Brooks suffered multiple strokes, resulting in catastrophic neurological injuries that have left him permanently disabled. The lawsuit further alleges that LSU disclosed confidential medical information about Brooks and used his name, image, and likeness (NIL) without his consent.