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Maybe the story surrounding alleged NCAA violations and Reggie Bush has legs afterall.

Yahoo Sports is reporting that a lawsuit was filed in San Diego County Tuesday afternoon against Reggie Bush by Lloyd Lake. Lake is suing Bush for close to $300,000.00. Lake alleges payments and benefits to Bush commencing while Bush was a sophomore at USC. He wants the money back since Bush ultimately didn’t hire him

The dagger in the heart development is that Lake is scheduled to meet with the NCAA on Friday. To this point NCAA investigators have cited a lack of cooperation with potential key witnesses. Those key witnesses include Bush, his present marketing agent, Mike Ornstein, and the two partners in New Era Sports and Entertainment, Lloyd Lake and Michael Michaels. Previously Michaels settled out of court with Bush for a reported two to three hundred thousand dollars, along with an agreement that Michaels not speak to the NCAA. It would appear Lake has leverage and that he intends to use that leverage.

Lets just assume the allegations of improper benefits to Bush are all or partially correct. The issue then becomes did USC know or should have they know about these benefits. Yahoo Sports is reporting that at least to a degree USC assistant coach Todd McNair knew of the relationship between Bush, Michaels, and Lake. Further, at least a couple of times Michaels and Lake were permitted into the USC locker room post game.

Yahoo sports points out something worth understanding about NCAA investigations. The NCAA does not have the power of subpoena. Therefore, an NCAA investigation can be greatly helped if there is a court action as witnesses are subpoenned, along with documents, be it for trial or part of the pretrial discovery process.

Again, if the Lake lawsuit has merit, then Lake has leverage. It will be interesting to see if Bush writes a check before Lake uses his leverage. Time will tell.