Despite days of being deadlocked, a Los Angeles jury has finally reached a verdict involving a San Francisco Giants fan that sued the Los Angeles Dodgers and its former owner for injuries he suffered after he was attacked in the parking lot of the team’s stadium after a game.
The Dodgers were found to be 25 liable of non-economic damages payable to Bryan Stow, a Santa Cruz resident, paramedic, and father of two, suffered as he was walking to his car after a Dodgers-Giants game.
The two defendants who Stow was reportedly assaulted by in the Dodger Stadium parking lot were each held 37.5 percent liable; Stow himself was not found to have any liability.
Former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt was not held liable.
Damages were reportedly determined to be $17.8 million, or about half of the $36 million Stow had sought. The damages were to cover Stow’s lost earnings, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and future costs.
The economic damages is about $12 million and includes medical bills. According to the verdict, the Dodgers are on the hook for this entire amount.
Of the remaining $5 million-plus, the Dodgers are only responsible for 25 percent. Accordingly, the Dodgers will have to pay Stow a little more than $13 million.
Jurors came to its verdict on July 9, after reportedly being deadlocked early last week. The trial’s judge ordered the jury to continue deliberations despite the impasse.
Stow’s lawsuit alleged the Dodgers did not provide enough security and lighting outside the stadium and in the parking lot, hence creating a dangerous situation allowing someone to be wrongfully harmed.
According to Stow’s attorneys, the Giants fan was reportedly beaten unconscious and the injuries he suffered as a result would require daily care for the rest of his life. Specifically, Stow reportedly suffered brain damage and permanent disability.
Marvin Norwood and Louie Sanchez were the two reported attackers who engaged with Stow after the Dodgers’ opening day game versus the Giants on May 31, 2011. Both Norwood and Sanchez reportedly pleaded guilty of attacking Stow and were sentenced to 56 months, each, in prison.
Multiple news reports stated Stow was drunk at the time he was attacked by Norwood and Sanchez.
With Norwood and Sanchez both in prison, whether Stow would be able to collect their collective 75 percent share of liability is questionable.
Stow, who is bound to a wheelchair, reportedly made a pair of appearances at the trial.
