Jurisprudence

Ben Shaffer, an orthopedist who treated former Loyola basketball player Hank Gathers at courtside after he collapsed and later died, concluded his testimony at Superior Court in Torrance. Shaffer and two other defendants are being sued by Gathers’ family for negligence in Gathers treatment on March 4, 1990, the night he died.

Shaffer said there was no reason to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or use a defibrillator on Gathers on the court because Gathers’ had a strong pulse, was breathing and was responsive to commands. Shaffer said Gathers’ condition deteriorated while he was on the stretcher and being taken to a training room.

The trial will resume Tuesday.