MILWAUKEE -- Former Milwaukee Bucks guard Mike Dunleavy has filed a $10 million suit against American Airlines, claiming a runway accident injured his back and ended his NBA career.
The accident occurred Dec. 1, 1984, when an American jet stopped suddenly at Baltimore International Airport to avoid a fuel truck.
The sudden jolt injured Dunleavy's back, says the suit filed Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Dunleavy, a starting point guard at the time, tried playing a Dec. 1 game against the Washington Bullets in Landover, Md., the night of the accident. But pain forced him to leave in the first quarter.
Milwaukee coach Don Nelson, forward Charles Davis and guard Kevin Grevey were also injured by the jolt but all three recovered.
Tests showed Dunleavy suffered a herniated disc in his spine, which caused pain in his back, right leg and foot.
The injury left him 'totally and permanently' unable to play basketball and forced Dunleavy to undergo surgery and daily therapy, the suit says.
Dunleavy claims the flight crew was negligent in approaching a gate where the truck was parked, causing the sudden stop.
