BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The attorneys representing the family of Benjamin Greene, a local attorney who died while running a 5k in Hart Park in 2017, have announced they will hold a press conference Friday morning to discuss the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the Bakersfield Track Club.
In a press release, Dubin Law Firm announced they will be discussing new developments in the lawsuit filed back in 2018. The lawsuit, filed by Greene's wife Michelle, alleges the Bakersfield Track Club contributed to Greene's death stating the club performed willful misconduct by ignoring weather warnings regarding extreme heat and still holding an outdoor 5K run at Hart Park.
- Bakersfield attorney Benjamin Greene's wife, Michelle talks with 23ABC about her husband and frustrations about the 5k race:
On June 20, 2017, Greene was running a 5k race in near-110 degree weather as part of the Bakersfield Track Club’s “Summer Series" when he collapsed. He was immediately administered CPR by an off-duty firefighter before EMS could arrive. An ambulance took him to Kern Medical where he later died.
On the day of the race, the track club had arranged for five aid stations to provide the 180 runners with extra water, ice and Gatorade. Misting stations were also set up at the beginning and end of the course to assist the runners.
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The BTC released a statement following Greene's death:
Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Greene’s family at this sad and difficult time.
The Kern County Coroner's office said Greene's cause of death was Hypertensive and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease with contributing factors of Methamphetamine and Phentermine intoxication. The manner of death is accident.
