Landmark $56 Million Settlement in Jiu-Jitsu Paralysis Case: Holding Instructors Accountable
A jiu-jitsu student was recently granted a $56 million settlement after being paralyzed by his black-belt instructor, known as “Sinistro.” The student, Jack Greener, sustained a severe neck injury during a sparring session with his instructor, Francisco Iturralde, in 2018, leaving him quadriplegic. The incident was captured on video, showing the instructor applying a technique that caused Greener to lose all function in his limbs. Greener spent months in the hospital and suffered multiple strokes as a result of the injury, just before his college graduation.
Greener filed a lawsuit against the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego, holding Iturralde responsible for his injuries. Iturralde, known as “Sinistro” for his aggressive grappling style, was initially ordered to pay $46 million by a San Diego jury in 2023. The studio appealed the decision, but the California Supreme Court upheld the judgment, with the final award now exceeding $56 million with post-judgment interest.
The outcome of the appellate court’s ruling is seen as a significant legal victory for Greener and other injured athletes in California. It reaffirms that sports instructors and facilities can be held accountable for unreasonably increasing risks beyond those inherent in the sport. Greener, who has since become a mountain climber and motivational speaker, hopes that this ruling will prevent similar incidents in the future.