The evidentiary phase of the civil case Bryan Stow filed against the Dodgers arising out of the brutal beating he received in the Dodger Stadium parking lot in 2011 has concluded. Lawyers for Stow and the Dodgers gave their closing statements yesterday, and the case is now in the jury’s hands.
The arguments each side made are to be expected in a case like this. Stow’s argument is that there should have been more uniformed police officers at the stadium and more security officers who would have likely ejected Stow’s assailants from the ballpark before there was ever a chance for an assault to go down. The Dodgers’ attorney asserted that there was more security than at any other Dodgers opening day in history, and no one could have prevented the assault on Stow.
But alcohol played a part in both sides’ closings. With the Dodgers claiming that Stow’s state of intoxication at the time of the attack contributed to what happened, and Stow’s lawyers blaming the Dodgers for excessive beer sales. From the Dodgers’ closing:“There were three parties responsible -- Sanchez, Norwood and, unfortunately, Stow himself. There were things Mr. Stow did that put these things in action,” Fox said.
He added, “You don’t get yourself this drunk and then say it’s not your fault.”From Stow’s lawyer:
The jury will now decide.
