In the aftermath of one of the largest sports injury settlements in California history, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Francisco Iturralde has broken his silence with a detailed public statement defending his actions during a 2018 training incident that left his student Jack Greener paralyzed and resulted in a $56 million judgment.
The case, which concluded this week when the California Supreme Court declined to review the verdict, has sent waves through the martial arts community and established new legal precedents for instructor liability in combat sports training.
The Incident That Changed Everything
On November 29, 2018, at Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in San Diego, what began as a routine Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu lesson between instructor Francisco Iturralde and student Jack Greener ended in catastrophe. Greener, then 23 and just weeks away from college graduation with plans to become a professional surf instructor, suffered a devastating cervical spine injury that left him quadriplegic.
According to court documents, the injury occurred when Iturralde, a second-degree black belt, placed Greener in a position that put the instructor’s entire body weight upon the student, crushing Greener’s cervical vertebrae. The consequences were immediate and severe—Greener spent months hospitalized, suffering multiple strokes and numerous medical complications.
A Record-Breaking Legal Victory
In 2023, a San Diego jury awarded Greener $46.475 million in damages, a verdict that was later affirmed by the California Court of Appeal in late 2024. With post-judgment interest, the total now exceeds $56 million—far surpassing the defendants’ original $1 million insurance policy.
The case established significant legal precedent under California’s “increased risk” standard, which holds that sports instructors can be held liable when they unreasonably heighten risks beyond those normally assumed in a sport. The appellate court determined that Iturralde’s conduct was not an inherent risk of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and therefore not protected by the assumption of risk doctrine.
“This ruling cements a critical legal victory not only for our client, but also for injured athletes across California by reaffirming that sports instructors and facilities may be held accountable when they unreasonably increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport,” said Rahul Ravipudi, one of Greener’s attorneys.
The Instructor’s Defense
In his first public statement since the incident, Iturralde presents a markedly different narrative of the events. The 33-year-old instructor, who has been practicing Jiu-Jitsu since age seven, describes the incident as a “tragic freak accident” that occurred during routine sparring.
“While we were practicing Jiu-Jitsu, my student Jack and I were in a sparring session. I was attempting a back take, and Jack attempted a Granby Roll, which is a wrestling move to escape the back take. As a result of the exchange of techniques, a tragic accident happened and he hurt his cervical spine,” Iturralde wrote in his statement.
Iturralde emphasizes Greener’s athletic background, noting that despite being a white belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Greener had “over a decade of wrestling experience and about four years of Jiu-Jitsu experience” and had “medaled in many tournaments.” This characterization directly contradicts the court’s findings and the portrayal of Greener as a beginner.
The case has sparked intense debate within the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. ADCC champion Royler Gracie, who reviewed video footage of the incident, commented: “I see the video many times, backing for many times… what I see is an accident, completely accident. And don’t tell me the negligence for the teacher, for the school.”
However, the legal system reached a different conclusion. The trial court rejected the defendants’ attempts to shield themselves under the primary assumption of risk doctrine, and evidence of Greener’s prior athletic background was deemed irrelevant to the specific negligent conduct in question.
The Personal Toll
Iturralde’s statement reveals the profound personal impact the case has had on his life and career. He describes being forbidden from contacting Greener after the accident, contrary to his usual practice of checking on injured students. The instructor was forced to continue teaching immediately after the incident despite being “a nervous wreck” and eventually had to quit his position at Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu.
“I was scared of teaching. I was scared of sparring. I didn’t even know if I could continue training Jiu-Jitsu. I couldn’t believe that the art I loved so much could, in a split second, cause something so tragic,” he wrote.
The case also took a financial and emotional toll. Iturralde describes being restricted in his communications by insurance company lawyers and feeling that “the trial was set up so I would be found liable.”
Harassment and Public Backlash
In his statement, Iturralde reveals that he has been subjected to ongoing harassment since the case gained public attention, including threatening phone calls and messages from internet trolls. He attributes much of the negative coverage to “that is wrongfully and sensationally simplistic, designed just to get more views or attention.”
The instructor maintains his innocence and love for the sport, writing: “I am a caring instructor and father, I have been a vegetarian for over ten years and can not imagine harming any living bean; I’ve never done anything violent in my life. To me, Jiu-Jitsu is a sport and a lifestyle — not fighting. It is about bonds and community.”
Legal and Insurance Implications
The case has significant implications beyond the martial arts community. U.S. Fire Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Crum & Forster, initially rejected Greener’s pre-trial settlement demand within their $1 million policy limits. This decision ultimately exposed them to the full judgment amount, with a $70 million-plus bond posted during the appeal process.
The trial team, led by attorneys from Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP, Morris, Sullivan & Lemkul LLP, and Niddrie Addams Fuller Singh, successfully argued that the instructor’s conduct went beyond the inherent risks of the sport.
A New Legal Standard
The case establishes important precedent for sports instruction liability throughout California. Legal experts suggest the ruling may prompt martial arts studios and athletic training facilities to review their safety protocols and instructor training programs.
The California Court of Appeal’s decision to publish the opinion means it can now be cited as precedent in future cases, potentially affecting how courts evaluate instructor liability in contact sports training environments.
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