Armstead sues USC after heart attack

Former USC defensive lineman Armond Armstead has sued the USC after alleging that he suffered a heart attack as a result of forced injections of a painkiller, the Sacramento Bee reports.

Lawsuit · Former USC defensive lineman Armond Armstead (94) is suing the school, claiming he suffered a heart attack forced pain killers. – Chris Pham | Daily Trojan

Armstead claims that the painkiller Toradol was administered 10 times by USC’s medical staff between 2009 and 2011 to treat separate foot, shoulder and chest injuries. According to the lawsuit, the multiple injections were the catalyst for the heart attack he suffered.

Armstead was unaware of having suffered the heart attack until he was officially diagnosed on March 3, 2011 at USC University Hospital. He did not play for the Trojans again after failing to gain medical clearance.

Armstead’s lawsuit does not disclose a financial settlement amount, but it alleges the heart attack ruined his chances of playing in the NFL, meaning he may request an NFL player’s salary, worth millions of dollars.

The lawsuit also asserts that Armstead requested a transfer after making a full recovery and was denied on numerous occasions.

“It would be inappropriate at this time for USC to make a comment about the lawsuit,” the school said in response.

Coming out of Pleasant Grove High School in Elk Wood, California, Armstead was a highly rated defensive tackle prospect. He played for USC from 2008-2010, starting 12 games as a junior.

Armstead’s younger brother, Arik, is a freshman defensive lineman at the University of Oregon. Arik originally committed to USC but rescinded that commitment in mid-October of 2011, shortly after older brother Armond was barred from gaining medical clearance to return for his senior season.

At the time of the de-commitment, Arik told the Los Angeles Times, “[His brother not receiving permission to return to the field has] definitely affected [his] family and [he’ll] just leave it at that.”

Currently, Armond Armstead is playing for the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League. He has recorded 19 tackles and one sack through nine games.