'The Biggest Loser' champion Matt Hoover sued for negligence

Matt Hoover apparently has a big legal problem.


The Biggest Loser second-season champion has been sued by a woman who claims she hired him in 2006 as a personal trainer only to have him neglect his duties and ultimately cause her bodily injury, according to a lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court and obtained by TMZ.com.

Clarissa Sanford claims she enrolled at Vision Quest Sports and Fitness in King County, WA in August 2004 and hired Hoover as a "personal trainer in one-on-one sessions" in October 2006.  She alleges Vision Quest represented Hoover "as a certified personal trainer when he was not."

Sanford also alleges that during one of her first sessions with Hoover he had her work on weight machines immediately after "an extensive cardio workout" and despite the fact he knew she suffered from congenital heart condition.

"While Clarissa was working on the bench with 40 lbs. of weight on the bar and while she was in the middle of a set, Mr. Hoover walked away and stopped spotting for Clarissa," reads the lawsuit.  "[She] could not control the weight on lifting, and the bar came down hard on her neck and fell on the bench."


As a result, Sanford claims she "suffered serious neck injuries which ultimately required a five-level fusion surgery from the C3 through C7 levels of her cervical spine."

"It is likely that she will require additional surgeries in the future," reads the lawsuit.

Sanford is accusing Hoover of negligence through misrepresentation; failure to properly evaluate and supervise her personal training sessions and monitor her abilities, physical condition and health; and abandonment during a personal training session.  In addition, she also claims the incident constituted a breech of contract and constructive fraud.

She is suing Hoover and Vision Quest Sports for unspecified damages.

Hoover won The Biggest Loser's 2005 second season when he lost a total of 157 pounds and had a finale weigh-in weight of 182 pounds.  He subsequently married fellow second-season participant Suzy Preston, and the two welcomed their first child together last June.


The couple currently resides in Des Moines, WA.






About The Author: Christopher Rocchio