A former MLB player is being sued by a catcher in relation to a 2007 mound-charging incident in Bridgeport.
CATCHER CLAIMS HE SUFFERED HEAD INJURY AFTER BEING HIT BY BATTER
A former MLB player is being sued by a catcher in relation to a mound-charging incident that occurred during a minor league game in Bridgeport in 2007, according to the Wall Street Journal. The catcher claims he and another player were injured when the batter charged the mound and swung his bat at them. The plaintiff claims that the batter hit him in the head and caused permanent head injuries that have prevented him from returning to professional baseball.
BATTER INJURED TWO PLAYERS
The incident occurred when the batter charged the mound after being hit on the leg by a fastball, according to the Connecticut Post. The pitcher claims the hit was unintentional. According to the pitcher, the player began swinging his bat in a helicopter-like manner. The pitcher’s hand was hit first and his middle finger was broken. The lawsuit alleges that the bat then hit the catcher on the head.
The incident led to the indefinite suspension and arrest of the batter. For unknown reasons, the player has not appealed his suspension, although he has the right to do so. The arrest of the player was considered unusual in professional sports, and the charges were later dropped after he spent two years on probation and sought accelerated rehabilitation.
PERMANENT HEAD INJURIES
According to the catcher, the injuries to his head are permanent and have kept him from returning to professional baseball. He has since become a lawyer in Maine and has launched a $4.8 million lawsuit against both the player who injured him and the player’s team.
The lawsuit is being heard by a 10-person jury in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport. The only photographic evidence of the incident is a series of pictures taken in rapid succession by a Connecticut Post photographer, which were shown to the jury. According to the batter’s attorney, the trial could wrap up by July 25.
PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS
While the above personal injury lawsuit involves professional baseball players, the truth is that anybody can suffer an injury caused, at least in part, by the negligence of another party. Such an injury is not, of course, limited to sports matches, and people may also end up being hurt as a result of a car accident, a slip-and-fall incident, or a defective product.
Regardless of the reasons for an injury, victims should consider what legal options they have available to them to hold any negligent party accountable. By consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer, anybody who has suffered such an injury will have the help they need to possibly seek justice and compensation for their pain and suffering.
