The household of a boy who was allegedly struck and injured by a wild throw from an Angels pitcher has filed a lawsuit in opposition to the ball membership, attorneys introduced Thursday afternoon, April 7, throughout a information convention outdoors Angel Stadium.
The lawsuit, filed in Orange County Superior Court docket, says negligence by the Angels resulted in a then-6-year-old boy struggling a cranium fracture when he was struck by a baseball thrown by pitcher Keynan Middleton whereas the boy was strolling along with his father within the stands greater than an hour and a half earlier than a Sept. 15, 2019, dwelling sport.
“This isn't about placing youngsters in a bubble or making certain the protection of everyone who involves a ballpark,” mentioned Keith Bruno, one of many attorneys representing the boy’s household. “It's about taking common sense measures and defending essentially the most susceptible we have now from recognized risks.”
Angels spokeswoman Marie Garvey mentioned the group is unable to touch upon the lawsuit, including that they haven't acquired a replica of the criticism and solely discovered of it by way of the media.
In response to the lawsuit, the boy, who's now 9 years previous, and his father had been strolling within the first row towards the Angels dugout, the place gamers had been signing autographs and memorabilia for followers.
Middleton threw a ball towards one other participant, who was unable to catch it, with the ball hitting the boy within the left facet of his cranium, the lawsuit alleges.
Main League Baseball tickets warn ballpark guests that by attending a sport they assume the danger of being struck by balls or bats.
The attorneys representing the boy’s household countered that the practices and a drill previous to the sport, which they are saying youngsters are invited to come back right down to and watch, usually are not a part of the sport itself. The attorneys added that protecting nets on the Anaheim stadium haven't been prolonged so far as at different ballparks.
The boy suffered “disabling accidents” that included “a cranium fracture, bleeding on the mind, traumatic mind accidents, bodily ache, emotional struggling and psychological anguish,” in response to the lawsuit.
“For 3 days we didn’t know if my son was going to dwell or die,” mentioned Beatrice Galaz, the boy’s mom, in a press release issued by the legal professionals. “We had been relieved that he survived, however since that day he has struggled at school. He’s merely not the identical.”
The legal professionals mentioned that earlier than hiring attorneys the household contacted the Angels about serving to them with their mounting medical payments and had been “met with silence.”
The lawsuit seeks an unspecified quantity of financial damages.