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Who's at fault when foul hits fan?
In this Tuesday, May 20, 2014 photo, fans react as a young boy is picked up by his father and rushed up the steps after being hit by a foul ball off the bat of Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta. The 8-year-old boy who was struck in the head has been released from the hospital and is "doing well." While the family requested privacy and boy's name was not released, the Braves said Thursday they had received a call from the victim. He thanked the players who visited him in the hospital and let the team "know that he's home and doing well." (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland)
Are the Atlanta Braves responsible for a fan’s injuries when a hitter lines a foul ball into the stands and hits the fan in the head? Remember the 8-year-old boy who was struck just a few weeks ago?
As it was that time, the ball often is traveling at high speed – as fast as 90 mph – and may reach the stands in a single second.
Major League Baseball and the Braves say they have no liability in those instances. But the parents of a 6-year-old girl who was struck four years ago – causing multiple skull fractures – say the Braves have an obligation to put up protective netting along the first-base and third-base lines. Their lawsuit is pending.
The team says the extra nets would ruin the experience for the fans who pay top dollar to sit behind the dugout, often in the hope that they will be able to catch a foul. The Braves protect hundreds of seats behind home plate with a huge net, and the team believes that’s enough. Fans, they say, understand there’s an element of risk in attending the game.
What do you think? Read the full report by staff writer Bill Rankin on myajc.com.
