Seriously injured friend of Dan Uggla's sues after fall from ballplayer's deck
A Tennessee man who sustained traumatic brain injuries and spinal fractures after falling from a deck at Dan Uggla's house has filed suit against the building contractor and house inspector.
Uggla is also named in the suit, but the Braves second baseman told the AJC there is no animosity between him and Charles Grogan, who is seeking $5 million in damages.
Grogan was leaning against the deck railing when it collapsed, causing him to fall some 15 feet and land awkwardly, Uggla said.
There were concerns his friend might not survive, though Grogan's condition has improved in recent months, said Uggla, who purchased the 5,909-square-foot home in Franklin, Tenn., for $1.05 million last fall.
The accident occurred in October, a few days after the conclusion of Major League Baseball's regular season.
Named in the suit, filed Aug. 22 in Williamson County, Tenn., Circuit Court, are home inspector Jerry Black and David Mahand of Classic Southern Homes Inc.
The 31-year-old slugger, who graduated from high school in Columbia, Tenn. and attended the University of Memphis, signed a five-year, $62 million contract extension with the Braves last winter.
After a rough start, Uggla rebounded to compile the longest hitting streak in Atlanta Braves history. On the day the suit was filed in Tennessee, Uggla hit his 30th home run -- the fifth consecutive season he's hit 30 or more.
-- Staff writer David O'Brien contributed to this article.
About the Author
A native Atlantan, Boone joined the AJC staff in 2007. He quickly carved out a niche covering crime stories, assuming the public safety beat in 2014. He's covered some of the biggest trials this decade, from Hemy Neuman to Ross Harris to Chip Olsen, the latter of which was featured on Season 7 of the AJC's award-winning "Breakdown" podcast.
