Former UCI Player Beers Files Suit Against School

IRVINE —  Elizabeth Beers, a former basketball player at UC Irvine, filed suit Wednesday in Orange County Superior Court alleging the university medical staff misdiagnosed a back injury suffered during a game against Long Beach State on Feb. 23, 1992.

The suit alleges that trainer Loreen Koshi, who is no longer at the school, diagnosed the injury as a sprain--despite swelling and numbness radiating down Beers’ legs--without the aid of a physician’s examination. Beers was cleared nine days later to play in a game during which the injury was allegedly aggravated, eventually leading to spinal fusion surgery last December.

Because of ongoing medical treatment, a dollar figure has not been attached to the suit, according to attorney J. David Mazurek. Beers also is seeking damages because her scholarship was revoked this year, which the suit alleges violated a verbal agreement with the school. She received a reduced scholarship for the 1993-94 academic year.

Irvine Athletic Director Dan Guererro said Thursday that he had not seen the suit and could not comment on pending litigation.