A California jury awarded about $18 million in damages for Bryan Stow who was left permanently disabled after beaten by two men at the Dodgers stadium parking lot in 2011. Of the total judgment, the Dodgers share would be about $15 million while The Los Angeles Times reported the number to be $13.9 million. The jury determined the baseball team was 100% liable for Stow’s economic losses including lost wages and medical bills but 25% liable for pain and suffering.
The Dodgers attorneys argued that the two men were liable for Stow’s injury, not the team. While the jury agreed that the two assailants were primarily responsible for the injury, the team was also liable since they were negligent in keeping the facility safe.
Pointing out that the team spent about 62 cents per attending fan, Stow’s attorney said, “The Dodgers’ own pocketbook prevented them from providing proper security.” The team’s attorney Dana Fox objected saying that the team had heightened the level of security and that Stow also should be responsible for his injury. “There were things that Mr. Stow did that put these events into action. Don’t get yourself this drunk and then say, ‘I share no responsibility for what happened,’” said Fox.
The jury could not reach an agreement initially but came to a 9-3 split at the end, finding the Dodgers liable but not its former owner Frank McCourt whom Stow also sued. However, it unanimously agreed that Stow was not contributorily negligent.
Stow originally asked for $50 million in damages but expressed his satisfaction after the verdict was announced when he said,
“This is a nice nest egg for his family, desperately needed.”
Dodgers likely to pay about $13.9 million in Bryan Stow verdict
L.A. Dodgers must pay $15 million to baseball fan beaten at stadium