Team:
Alexander Samaras
Gerson Molina
The names of the litigants---Bryan Michael Stow, Elizabeth Ann Stow and David Edward Stow;
Tyler Stow and Tabitha Stow, minors, through their guardians Ad Litem and Jacqueline Kain.
Defendants are LA Dodgers, Frank McCourt et al (many under the leadership of both the
Dodgers and Frank McCourt).
The date the lawsuit was filed: May 24th, 2011
The court in which the lawsuit was filed: Superior Court of the State of California—County of
Los Angeles, Central District.
Case status and issues at hand:
A Giants fan and a couple of his friends were at the LA Dodgers v. San Francisco Giants game at
Dodger Stadium on March 31st, 2011. The game was the home-opener for the Dodgers. During,
and prior to the game, fans of the LA Dodgers “yelled” and “taunted” and objects, including
food was thrown at Stow and his friends, who were wearing the team colors of the Giants. The
verbal abuse continued when the game was finished and when Stow and his “companions” were
leaving the stadium. After exiting the stadium, he and his companions were headed towards the
taxi-pickup area, when Dodger fans attacked him. He was hit on the head numerous times. He
eventually fell on the ground and hit his head. His head was then kicked a few times while on the
floor. He lost consciousness. It took 10-15 minutes for “Dodger Defendant personnel” to
respond to the scene. Stow was taken to San Francisco General Hospital and was put in a
medically induced coma. Since then, parts of his skull have been removed to take pressure away
from his brain. He has recently been moved to another facility in San Francisco, where he is
undergoing extensive rehabilitation, including occupational, speech and physical therapy, for the
brain damage he received from the beatings. The process is very slow, yet he has recently
accomplished a major feat, by writing his name (support4bryanstow.com). The suspects are not
yet known; however the LAPD have arrested one suspect, Giovanni Ramirez, who they believe
was involved in the assault. The plaintiffs are suing the defendants, including Frank McCourt,
the owner of the Dodgers, who owns the parking lot and Dodger Stadium, on the counts
of “negligence, premising liability, negligent hiring, retention, supervision, negligent infliction
of emotional distress, loss of consortium, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and intentional
infliction of emotional distress.” The plaintiffs argue that the defendants inadequately provided a
safe environment; as a result of security funding that had been cut, both in the stadium and in the
parking lot. Furthermore, they believe that the defendants had “prior notice” that “gang
members” and other criminals congregate at LA Dodger games to “meet, plan and carryout out
criminal activity”, which they were made aware by local authorities. They also believe that they
were aware of other similar incidents that have occurred, after 2004. Moreover, their advertising
of alcohol such as the “half off beer,” which has, after the incident, ceased to continue, played a
major role in the incident. The lack of lighting in the parking lot made the parking lot more
susceptible for crime, which the defendants were well aware of. The lack of security on duty
failed to get rid of drunken fans and control the ongoing abuse that lead to the
incident. The “actions and/or omissions constituted malice, oppression, and or/or willful and
conscious disregard and safety of PLAINTIFFS pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure
3294 entitling PLAINTIFFS to punitive damages.” The defendants breached their standard of
care and their duty owed to Stow to protect and make sure such an incident would not occur. The
workers of the LA Dodgers saw the abuse that Stow and his friends faced; yet they did not act
appropriately. Security should have helped Stow and his friends safely leave the stadium and
parking lot. Lastly, no warning was given to Stow of such dangers of coming to the game. The
litigants/plaintiffs are asking the court to find the defendants liable for the situation and they seek
general, special, and punitive damages, as well as damages that are used/will be used for the
lawsuit, and any money that was donated to the “Bryan Stow fund,” including repaying those
who gave to the fund. Stow has two kids who are still minors and who are dependent on him.
***Quotations are from the complaint. Other information is from the complaint as well.
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