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Judge Issues Ruling On $1.4 Million Reggie Bush Case

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jun 23, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Nearly two decades after the extra benefits saga that clouded the end of Reggie Bush's legendary college football career, we're still seeing the fallout from it.

Per the Los Angeles Times, a judge recently upheld a ruling ordering the former USC star to pay $1.4 million to Lloyd Lake — who filed a lawsuit against Bush alleging he publicly defamed and disparaged him in violation of an agreed upon clause from their previous settlement.

Lake's alleged benefits he provided to the Bush family resulted in sanctions for the Trojans and Bush losing his Heisman Trophy (which he regained last year).

The businessman's original suit against Reggie was filed in 2007 and settled in 2010. The agreement in his second filing also contained a clause requiring future disputes to go to arbitration which is how we landed here.

Appearing on the "I Am Athlete" podcast a few years ago, Bush accused Lake of blackmail and having a criminal record "as long as the Cheesecake Factory menu," while also making the false claim that he's a convicted rapist.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 07: Former New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush reacts before the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Carolina Panthers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 7, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Those comments have now led to an arbitrator ruling in Lake's favor, where the San Diego native will be awarded half a million dollars, as well as $764,640 in attorneys' fees and $116,780 in additional costs.

Bush reportedly has the right to appeal. However, the history of courts throwing out the results private arbitration agreements is very short— if it even exists at all.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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