$2,426,000 Arbitration Award Sports Injury Case: Rider v. Los Angeles Unified School District

As co-lead trial counsel, Daniel Balaban secured a $2.426 million arbitration award against the Los Angeles Unified School District, on behalf of a former North Hollywood High School student, Johnny Rider, for catastrophic injuries sustained during a 2008 football tryout.

The incident involved a 15-year-old student who suffered a severe five-level cervical spine fracture during an unsanctioned and unsupervised football drill in which participants were not provided helmets or protective equipment. The school district admitted liability, and the arbitration focused primarily on the scope of damages rather than fault.

The plaintiff’s case centered on allegations of permanent and life-altering injury, including cervical spine trauma and a claimed traumatic brain injury. Counsel argued that Rider faced lifelong consequences, including chronic pain, future surgical interventions, diminished quality of life, and significant loss of earning capacity tied to his athletic and academic aspirations.