Cage fighter’s cases lose power on strength of insurer’s video

It looks like the possibility of an insurer showing a video of a cage fighter in action has taken the punch out of two lawsuits in which the pugilist was a plaintiff.

David Roche had claimed he suffered “severe injury, loss, damage and expense” after his stationary car was hit by a driver in 2015 in Dublin, according to the Irish Independent newspaper.

The driver’s insurer, Axa Insurance Co., had prepared a video of a March martial arts fight between Mr. Roche and another fighter.

The driver’s attorney told the court the driver had consented to Mr. Roche withdrawing his £60,000 ($77,239.50) damages claim against her.  Mr. Roche’s attorney did not respond to a query into whether the withdrawal was connected to the video.

Separately, Mr. Roche also asked to withdraw as plaintiff in another accident, in which the driver was insured by American International Group Inc. 

In that case, Mr. Roche had claimed a 2014 accident affected his balance and his ability to lift, bend, squat and climb stairs. It was later learned the claim had been settled for a minimal amount that included a contribution toward Mr. Roche’s legal costs, according to the article.