Former CB Brian Baucham Sues USC and Lane Kiffin

Former USC Trojans' cornerback Brian Baucham is suing the university and ex-coach Lane Kiffin, according to an Associated Press report.

Baucham alleges that he was forced to play in a game while he was ill and that he "suffered cardiopulmonary damage and brain injury" while playing against Cal in 2012, two months after he had sustained a concussion.

In the September 2012 game, Brian Baucham collapsed during the second half and was taken to the hospital by an ambulance. He had to be placed in intensive care and be put on a ventilator Saturday night and Sunday before he could be removed from the device on Monday when his condition improved.

By Wednesday, Baucham was healthy enough to be released.

Baucham hadn't played in USC's previous game against Stanford and was one of "several USC players who experienced flulike symptoms in the week leading up to the Cal game." But USC doctors ran tests and gave him fluids. He played the first half and made three tackles in the game.

But Brian Baucham again received fluids in the second quarter and went back out for a few plays in the third quarter before he could no longer continue.

Baucham was coughing and could not get a full breath in the locker room and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. After he was admitted, doctors said there was "a bleed on the brain" and fluid in Baucham's lungs.

Baucham never played for USC again after the incident. According to the lawsuit, Baucham also claims USC attempted to revoke his scholarship after the injury.

UPDATE: USC Athletic Director Pat Haden released the following statement on the Baucham lawsuit on USC's web site:

"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to comment on this lawsuit and due to privacy laws we cannot comment on the specifics of this case.  I will say that I am confident that we provide excellent medical treatment to our student athletes and that their health is always our primary concern ahead of any athletic competition."