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Court ruling clears way for depositions of Reggie Bush, Pete Carroll

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A state appellate court affirmed Monday that an ongoing lawsuit against Reggie Bush (pictured above) does not have to go to confidential arbitration, opening the way for attorneys to question Bush and USC Coach Pete Carroll about whether the running back received improper benefits while playing for the Trojans.

The decision involves a civil lawsuit filed by a would-be sports marketer, Lloyd Lake, who claims to have supplied money and gifts to Bush and his parents beginning around late 2004.

The alleged gifts include a rent-free house for the Bush family and money to purchase a customized 1996 Chevrolet Impala that Bush drove while in school.

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Bush has denied any wrongdoing. His attorney could not be reached for comment.

Lake’s former business partner, Michael Michaels, had also filed a suit but settled out of court with Bush and signed a confidentiality agreement. Bush’s attorneys had argued that because Lake and Michaels were partners, the agreement also applied to Lake.

Now that the court has ruled otherwise, Lake’s attorney, Brian Watkins, said he would arrange depositions for Bush, Carroll and Bush’s parents as soon as possible.

‘This will play out in open court for the public to see,’ Watkins said.

-- David Wharton

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