Tennis association, player who fell settle liability lawsuit
NEW YORK — The United States Tennis Association and popular Canadian player Eugenie Bouchard reached a settlement in her liability lawsuit on Friday, ending a trial at which she testified about slipping and falling on a wet locker room floor at the 2015 U.S. Open and suffering a head injury.
Asked how she felt as she left the courthouse, Bouchard responded, “Just relief and happiness right now,” adding she was ready to get back to playing tennis.
She said she felt “vindicated” by a jury’s verdict in an initial phase of the trial finding the USTA mostly liable for the accident.
A second phase, at which Bouchard was expected testify about how the accident had harmed her career and the jury was to decide what damages the USTA should pay, was interrupted on Friday by several hours of closed-door talks between the parties. They emerged with the deal but declined to disclose the terms.