http://www.aolnews.com/2009/04/14/man-stabbed-outside-dodger-stadium/

But, please, let’s continue to bash the writer. Because we all know how impossible it is to avoid articles that may make us queasy since they possess sentences and paragraphs that might be upsetting.

For the record, I took Craig’s comments as a bit of insight from a former lawyer’s perspective. But that’s just how I read.

I had a friend who about 10 years ago sued the owners of a parking lot outside a concert venue. He started the original fight and kicked the crap out of the guy. The guy came back with a bunch of friends and beat my buddy up pretty good, in fact bit a chunk off of his ear. My friend ended up settling out of court for around 10 grand. This Stow case is a PR nightmare. Dodgers have to do right and settle this for a nice chunk of that 50 million. I hope he wins.

What goes on at stadiums is insane. The money they make selling booze they should get hit in the pockets. Of course then they just raise the prices again. I actually have stopped drinking at ball games. Not due to cost but to enjoy the game more. I don’t see the need to get half a buzz and end up forgetting most of the game.

Of course the Dodgers are liable!!! They host an event that attracts large crowds. They are obligated to protect the safety of their patrons to the best of their ability. I own several real estate properties, and if a dog is allowed to stay in a unit, the owner must have renters insurance. If they do not have renters insurance, I am the one liable for the danger to the neighborhood that dog presents, because I own the home and did not take reasonable steps to protect the neighbors. If the Bennigan’s or TGI Fridays that you referance have a history of violent crime, they are responsible to provide adequate security. Hotels, Restaurants, baseball parking lots: all places who host guests who expect a safe environment. All places who are held responsible when forseeable acts are committed, or where multiple violent acts have occured, and the owners were negligent and not preventing future violent acts.

I hope Mccouts wife takes half his money, and the Stowe family takes the other half.

So the question is whether Stow’s beating was a foreseeable harm. Drunken violence is a known risk at any establishment that serves alcohol, which is one reason why professional sports teams have uniformed security guards. Even if it weren’t, the numerous past incidents of fan-on-fan violence at Dodgers/Giants games should have given Dodgers’ management a clue. And in the specific case of Stow, there’s apparently evidence that he was being harassed by Dodgers fans during the game, so there was reason to think he was in danger specifically. Sure, the thugs who beat him up are primarily at fault, but the Dodgers didn’t do a good job of protecting him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=1625187

Of course your comments came off as “insensitive”. How else could they have been taken? I’m still trying to figure out why you felt a need to say them.

Two years ago someone was actually killed after a giants/Dodgers game in the same parking lot. The Dodgers KNEW this level of violence was possible at their place of business and never addressed their security issues. It’s that reason why I think a jury will decimate them.

50 million might even be light.

Who else but McCourt is responsible for the sh!tty security? He gives orders to hire or fire a head of security. A security force that was invisible, apparently. Where were the security staff while the 2 attackers made multiple aggressive contacts with other fans during and after the game? How is it that no staff member even saw these 2 people or that there were no security cameras recording the activity in the parking lot? How does anyone run an organization of the size and scope of the Dodgers without decent security? Such a person deserves to lose their shirt for being lax about the state of the team and the running of the venue.

However, I’d like to say that I’m grateful you aren’t lawyering anymore. Because i too have to thank my education and work life for my levels of despair over humanity, I think I understand. I’m grateful that you care enough abut the situation to keep us updated on how things are going for Mr. Stow, even if its not always good news. This legal wrangle will play out. Probably over years. We’ll all need some stamina to weather it and none will need more than Mr. Stow and his family. I wish them luck and I hope McCourt loses his shirt to pay for what happened on his watch.