Business titan files bombshell lawsuit against USC over football field ‘humiliation’

Brian Kennedy, the founder of renowned Southern California billboard company Regency Outdoor Advertising, is suing the University of Southern California, alleging recent construction at the school has caused him “reputational harm,” “embarrassment” and “humiliation.”

Kennedy described himself in the lawsuit, which was obtained by The California Post Wednesday, as a mega Trojans booster who has contributed over $4 million to USC all while helping build the school’s Galen Center and playing a role in the return of Reggie Bush’s Heisman Trophy.

However, he said in recent years, he’s been wronged by the Trojans — and he now wants them to pay for it.

Kennedy alleged in his suit that in the late 1990s, he made a deal with the university where he agreed to fork over $400,000 to get the school a new football practice field. In return, Kennedy claimed the Trojans agreed to name the field in his honor for “forever.”

Kennedy was initially pleased with the pact, as he wrote in his lawsuit that after construction was completed, USC won two national titles as Brian Kennedy Field “served as a prominent and enduring part of [USC’s] athletics facilities.”

“For more than two decades,” Kennedy wrote in his suit, “the Field stood as a visible acknowledgement of Plaintiff’s extraordinary contributions to Defendant and the lasting relationship between Plaintiff and the University.”

But in the last two years, Kennedy stated USC breached its contract by demolishing Brian Kennedy Field and removing the affiliated signage and other plaques that had previously recognized his contributions.

Kennedy claimed he attempted to work with the school before filing his lawsuit, but USC “declined to provide any comparable recognition.”

“Plaintiff suffered harm as a result of Defendant’s actions,” Kennedy’s lawsuit stated, “including reputational harm, embarrassment, humiliation and the loss of the benefit of the deal made with Defendant and the condition upon which Plaintiff paid $400,000.”

Kennedy added in his suit that USC’s conduct was “willful, malicious, oppressive, fraudulent” and “despicable.”

Kennedy is suing for promissory estoppel, fraud, breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, as well as negligent misrepresentation.

USC did not respond on Wednesday to a request for comment on the matter.

While a longstanding supporter of USC football, Kennedy has been publicly critical of the Trojans in the past; he famously made headlines in 2020 when he called the state of the program “dogs–t” at a prominent award ceremony.

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