Jay Z and Roc Nation, his entertainment company, are facing a lawsuit from boxer Daniel Franco. The lawsuit claims that the negligence of Jay Z and Roc Nation led to potential career-ending injuries for Franco. The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Tuesday.
According to Franco's attorney, Jay Z and Roc Nation were responsible for a failed bout in March 2017 which resulted in Franco sustaining severe brain injuries. Franco alleges that his trainers failed to properly train him, and that Jay Z and Roc Nation, who were responsible for managing his boxing career, did not obtain proper medical clearance for the fight.
The lawsuit further alleges that Roc Nation did not give Franco adequate medical support and that they even denied him access to proper medical attention when he needed it the most. Franco's attorney revealed that his client developed a blood clot in his brain following the fight and subsequently required emergency surgery.
The attorney also asserted that Jay Z and Roc Nation ignored medical advice, which advised against participating in the match due to the risk of further harm.
Despite the warning, they purportedly pressured Franco to continue with the fight.
Franco's lawsuit seeks damages for physical and emotional pain, mental anguish, lost wages, and medical expenses. The amount of compensation being sought has not been disclosed. The lawsuit also requests a jury trial.
Roc Nation has not yet officially commented on the lawsuit; however, this is not the first legal dispute they have faced. In 2019, Roc Nation was sued by former boxer Sajad Gharibi, who claimed that the company failed to properly manage his career, leading to financial losses and missed opportunities.
The outcome of that case is not known.
Daniel Franco was a promising featherweight boxer, with a professional record of 16-2-3, before his career was derailed by the injuries. Now, his hopes of returning to the ring are uncertain as he continues to cope with the aftermath of the fight. His lawsuit against Jay Z and Roc Nation aims to hold them accountable for their alleged negligence and seeks compensation for the devastating impact it has had on his life and career.
As the legal battle unfolds, the boxing world will be watching closely to see the repercussions of this lawsuit and how it may affect Jay Z and Roc Nation's involvement in the sport.