Andre Ward's Injury: Roc Nation Sports Sues Insurer For $6.3M

[Ruthless-RKO]

Speculation regarding Andre Ward’s comeback apparently is just that.

BS.com has learned through court documents it has obtained that Ward and former promoter Roc Nation Sports are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Lloyds Of London. They seek $6.3 million because they allege the prominent insurance company has failed to honor the terms of his policy after he suffered a career-ending injury to his right knee.

Ward and Roc Nation Sports contend Lloyds of London has wrongfully denied his claim to collect on a policy that was taken out to insure them in the event of an injury that prevents him from boxing again.

Ward, 34, said he suffered what turned out to be a prohibitive knee injury while training in October 2016, the month before he edged Sergey Kovalev by unanimous decision in their first light heavyweight title fight.

The lawsuit was filed December 14 in a Northern California federal court. Ward urged judge Joseph J. Spero on Thursday to not dismiss his lawsuit on the grounds that his knee injury is reason the two-division champion eventually retired in September 2017.

The undefeated Ward was just 33 when he announced his retirement. Three months earlier, Ward had stopped Russia’s Kovalev in the eighth round of their light heavyweight championship rematch at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs), who’ll turn 35 on February 23, could not be reached for comment in reference to the lawsuit.

BS.com has been informed by multiple sources, though, that Ward hasn’t had any serious conversations regarding a comeback with those that work for Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. Ward was promoted toward the end of his career by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, but ESPN, Ward’s broadcasting employer, has an exclusive content deal with Top Rank.

https://t.co/tDkmjsiHKJ?amp=1

[oogiebe]

Truly remarkable. If he was forced to retire due to injury, I'd say the 6 Million is a pittance compared to what he could have made had he fought on.

[Cyclops]

Ward's grown on me in retirement but he's not had a lot of luck with injury and appears to be in court a lot over shit.

Also, like Ooogie says, for arguably the p4p no.1 fighter when he retired 6.4 million is pretty crappy.

His career was disappointing in a lot of ways.

[oogiebe]

Ward's grown on me in retirement but he's not had a lot of luck with injury and appears to be in court a lot over poo.

Also, like Ooogie says, for arguably the p4p no.1 fighter when he retired 6.4 million is pretty crappy.

His career was disappointing in a lot of ways.

Agreed. I feel like there was a lot left on the table for him. Would have liked to see a few more big fights. Shame he got hurt.

[Onetimeonly]

They won't win a penny in court. He fought with the injury.

[Fightdoctor]

He fought twice against the most dangerous 175lber after the injury. No money for you. Caso cerrado!!

[jamamb]

im no legal man but wtf type case is this if he kept fighting after

[oogiebe]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

[verlichte]

People aren’t thinking things through...

It’s obvious that an injury can become progressively worse, to the point Andre Ward could no longer continue his career.

I suspect most injuries start as minor niggles and slight pains, progressing to something much more serious as time goes by.

If Ward’s injury gradually became so severe that he was compelled to retire from the sport, then he should be able to make a claim on his policy.

Insurers always try to avoid compensating their clients and usually challenge all claims that are made on their policies.

Many normal people, who can’t afford legal support to challenge their decisions, usually give up, but Ward should have the wealth to challenge his insurers and eventually receive some sort of payment.

[Onetimeonly]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

Yeah it does.

[oogiebe]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

Yeah it does.

Great argument...I'll await your next emoji post.

[Luckybattles]

Ward is a smart guy. He made his money and knows there is no need to be greedy. Walking away with a 6 million cushion is very comfortable. For most of us, that a very comfortable living for the rest of our lives and then some to leave behind to loved ones.

[jamamb]

Ward is a smart guy. He made his money and knows there is no need to be greedy. Walking away with a 6 million cushion is very comfortable. For most of us, that a very comfortable living for the rest of our lives and then some to leave behind to loved ones.

well apparently it seems like hes saying he wouldve kept boxing if not injured, rather then stopping because he made his money like you say. if thats not true and hes just doing this to try to get 6m even though he had no intention to box anyway, then is that not being greedy?

[oogiebe]

Ward is a smart guy. He made his money and knows there is no need to be greedy. Walking away with a 6 million cushion is very comfortable. For most of us, that a very comfortable living for the rest of our lives and then some to leave behind to loved ones.

well apparently it seems like hes saying he wouldve kept boxing if not injured, rather then stopping because he made his money like you say. if thats not true and hes just doing this to try to get 6m even though he had no intention to box anyway, then is that not being greedy?

It will all have to be proven in court. If it's proved he could have continued to fight, then he won't collect. If he proves he was forced to retire because of the injury, and that is what he's insured for, then he'll win. Simple, not complicated.

[jamamb]

lol youve seen all the legal and insurance documents?

but i dont really get the previous comment i replied to, he either planned to fight on or is trying for an extra 6m even though he had no intention of fighting any more for money, which kinda seems greedy and a dishonest use of the policy

[oogiebe]

lol youve seen all the legal and insurance documents?

but i dont really get the previous comment i replied to, he either planned to fight on or is trying for an extra 6m even though he had no intention of fighting any more for money, which kinda seems greedy and a dishonest use of the polucy

You may be right,, but again, it'll have to be proven in court.

The insurance company, if that is their stance, would have to prove that Ward no longer had the intent to fight AND that he could have done so.

Ward's team will leverage medical records and expert witnesses from both boxing, as well as the medical field to show he couldn't continue to perform.

[jamamb]

i imagine insurance documents wud entail all sorts of fine points and conditions

[oogiebe]

i imagine insurance documents wud entail all sorts of fine points and conditions

It's a nightmare.

[Evander]

Speculation regarding Andre Ward’s comeback apparently is just that.

BS.com has learned through court documents it has obtained that Ward and former promoter Roc Nation Sports are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Lloyds Of London. They seek $6.3 million because they allege the prominent insurance company has failed to honor the terms of his policy after he suffered a career-ending injury to his right knee.

Ward and Roc Nation Sports contend Lloyds of London has wrongfully denied his claim to collect on a policy that was taken out to insure them in the event of an injury that prevents him from boxing again.

Ward, 34, said he suffered what turned out to be a prohibitive knee injury while training in October 2016, the month before he edged Sergey Kovalev by unanimous decision in their first light heavyweight title fight.

The lawsuit was filed December 14 in a Northern California federal court. Ward urged judge Joseph J. Spero on Thursday to not dismiss his lawsuit on the grounds that his knee injury is reason the two-division champion eventually retired in September 2017.

The undefeated Ward was just 33 when he announced his retirement. Three months earlier, Ward had stopped Russia’s Kovalev in the eighth round of their light heavyweight championship rematch at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Ward (32-0, 16 KOs), who’ll turn 35 on February 23, could not be reached for comment in reference to the lawsuit.

BS.com has been informed by multiple sources, though, that Ward hasn’t had any serious conversations regarding a comeback with those that work for Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. Ward was promoted toward the end of his career by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports, but ESPN, Ward’s broadcasting employer, has an exclusive content deal with Top Rank.

https://t.co/tDkmjsiHKJ?amp=1

Sounds like b.s.

[verlichte]

lol youve seen all the legal and insurance documents?

but i dont really get the previous comment i replied to, he...is trying for an extra 6m even though he had no intention of fighting any more for money, which kinda seems greedy and a dishonest use of the polucy

You may be right,, but again, it'll have to be proven in court.

The insurance company, if that is their stance, would have to prove that Ward no longer had the intent to fight AND that he could have done so.

Ward's team will leverage medical records and expert witnesses from both boxing, as well as the medical field to show he couldn't continue to perform.

You insure a car with fully-comprehensive cover (without excess).

You crash the aforementioned car.

You have no intention to drive this car again.

The severely damaged car is then evaluated by the insurer and is deemed as being too expensive to repair, to the point it’s had to be written-off.

The car insurers are still obliged to reimburse you for the equivalent financial cost of its replacement, even though you’d never had any intention to drive the originally-insured car ever again.

Andre Ward still needs to be compensated, since it seems he can’t fight again even if he wanted to. He doesn’t have to prove anything about his “intentions”, as they’re utterly irrelevant.

It’s not complicated. Think about how you’d expect your own insurers to behave in your life and then apply the same principles to Andre Ward’ situation.

[Onetimeonly]

i imagine insurance documents wud entail all sorts of fine points and conditions

Yeah, they have outed themselves here. Easy time for the judge.

[Onetimeonly]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

Yeah it does.

Great argument...I'll await your next emoji post.

I'm not going to explain insurance liability to you. Rest assured you're wrong.

[oogiebe]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

Yeah it does.

Great argument...I'll await your next emoji post.

I'm not going to explain insurance liability to you. Rest assured you're wrong.

You don't have to, and we'll see eventually.

[Onetimeonly]

Just because he fought with the injury doesn't necessarily negate the liability to the insurance company. The injury worsened to the point of forcing his retirement.

Yeah it does.

Great argument...I'll await your next emoji post.

I'm not going to explain insurance liability to you. Rest assured you're wrong.

You don't have to, and we'll see eventually.

[verlichte]

Apparently, here are the legal details relating to Andre Ward’s lawsuit against his Lloyd's of London insurers:

• December 14th, 2018 – $6.3 million disability lawsuit filed by Andre Ward against Lloyd's of London.

• January 25th, 2019 - Lloyd's of London asked the California federal court to dismiss the $6.3 million disability coverage claim from ex-pro boxer Andre Ward, saying the policy at issue was written for his management company, not Ward specifically.

• February 8th, 2019 - Meanwhile, Andre Ward has urged the same California federal court on Thursday not to dismiss his suit against Lloyd’s of London over a $6.3 million policy. Ward says the policy should cover his career-ending injury, claiming that Lloyd’s is making an absurd argument by saying that he wasn’t insured under the policy.

[Source: Law360.com]

Lloyd's of London appear to be using the legal jargon contained within the (typically) misleading small print of their paperwork to avoid paying the $6.3m disability claim – whether they’re entitled to do this or not will be decided by the federal court.