Herd football player named in civil suit

HUNTINGTON -- A man is suing a Marshall University football player and those who served him alcohol after sustaining injuries in an accident.

Jordan Edward Badalucco-Crist filed a lawsuit April 8 in Cabell Circuit Court against Kevin Grooms, Alyssa Rae Bartley and John Does 1-3, citing negligence.

The lawsuit states Badalucco-Crist was crossing Fourth Avenue in the 1200 block in Huntington on April 21, 2013, when Grooms struck him with his vehicle.

The incident caused severe and permanent injuries, the complaint said. The complaint alleges Bartley and others served Grooms alcohol or drugs before the incident and then allowed him to drive inhibited.

Badalucco-Crist is seeking damages that cover past and future lost wages, medical expenses, physical and mental pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, embarrassment, annoyance and inconvenience, punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interest and court costs.

Grooms was arrested after the incident and charged with underage consumption and obstruction. He was arrested again in November on misdemeanor domestic battery and obstruction charges.

He remained on suspension until the day before spring drills in late March when Coach Doc Holliday said Grooms had returned to the team after meeting the satisfactions of the coaching staff. He took part in spring drills.

Grooms, who will be a redshirt junior running back, had 503 yards and six touchdowns on 91 carries last season in which he was plagued by a high ankle sprain. In 2012, he had 737 yards and eight TDs on 121 carries, which earned him Conference USA freshman of the year honors.

Badalucco-Crist is being represented by Michael J. Del Giudice of Ciccarello, Del Giudice & Lafon. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Christopher D. Chiles.

Cabell Circuit Court Case No. 14-C-293