14-year old injured in bat injury case files lawsuit
May 21, 2008
Wayne, New Jersey (WiredPRNews.com) — When 12-year old Steven Domalewski pitched a baseball that ended up in a line drive at a Police Athletic League game in 2006, the roar of the crowd would be heavily dulled out by the sounds of ambulances and emergency crews. In a tragic turn of events, that line drive would create irrevocable damage to the youngster.
Steven pitched the ball to the hitter who used a 31-inch, 19-ounce Louisville Slugger TPX Platinum bat at the plate and the hitter slammed a line drive–right into Steven’s chest, right above the heart. According to Steven’s doctors, his heart stopped beating and his brain was deprived of oxygen for approximately 20 minutes causing brain damage.
On Monday, Steven’s family filed a lawsuit in the state Superior Court claiming that the bat used in the incident was dangerous and the manufacturers should have recognized that. Hillerich & Bradsby Co., the maker of the bat, is named in the law suit as well as Little League Baseball and sporting goods retailer Sports Authority, which sold the bat. According to the family’s attorney, Ernest Fronzuto, the defendants should have had prior knowledge that the bat in question was dangerous for children to use.
“People who have children in youth sports are excited about the lawsuit from a public policy standpoint because they hope it can make the sport safer. There are also those who are skeptical of the lawsuit and don’t see the connection between Steven’s injury and the aluminum bat. Although he was not playing in a Little League game, the organization is being sued because it gave its seal of approval to the bat, certifying it as safe for use by children,” Fronzuto stated after filing the lawsuit on Monday.
According to the Associated Press, both defendants in the lawsuit (Little League and the bat manufacturer) deny any wrongdoing or neglect in the case. Additionally, Sports Authority has not commented on the matter.
Wired News Reporter
