A jury finds the Los Angeles Dodgers should've done more to protect fans and awarded a man nearly beaten to death $18 million. (Via Getty Images)
Santa Cruz paramedic and San Francisco Giants fan Bryan Stow suffered life-altering brain damage when he attended Opening Day at Dodger Stadium in 2011. (Via KABC)
And in a nutshell, the jury blamed the Dodgers for the environment leading up to the beating. Stow's attorney had argued beer sales were through the roof. That, coupled with not enough police or security guards.
GORDON TOKUMATSU, KNBC REPORTER: "Asked what his overriding message was, Carlos Muñoz said this."
CARLOS MUÑOZ, JUROR: "If you're going to own a stadium, do it right."
The jury found while Stow had been drinking, he was not liable and security guards assigned to the parking lot where he was attacked didn't arrive until well after it happened. (Via KCBS)
While the jury decided then-owner Frank McCourt wasn't liable and the Dodgers only partially responsible, jurors still laid the vast majority of settlement money on the baseball team.
KTLA reports over the course of four weeks of testimony and nine days of jury deliberations that at one point appeared hopelessly deadlocked, jurors even made a secret trip to Dodger Stadium.
ALEX VALDEZ, JUROR: "One of the expert witnesses, they started talking about life expectancy. Some said, 'Yeah, 10 years.' I felt something inside of me. I really felt for the family." (Via KTLA)
That particular juror said he wanted to award Stow more money. Stow's attorneys asked for more than $18 million, though Los Angeles TV stations reported several different figures.
KABC reports Stow's medical experts testified he'll need $34 million in care the rest of his life. (Via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times noted over the last month-and-a-half, 45-year-old Stow "often forgot why his parents were absent from their Capitola, Calif., home and asked when they planned to return."
The Dodgers' attorney was quoted on several local TV stations saying multiple times essentially the team disagreed with, but respected the jury's decision — suggesting reporters asked multiple times if the team was frustrated.
Forbes notes the Dodgers could obviously appeal the case, presumably furthering a nightmarish PR situation for the team. But if they don't, the $13.9 million portion the team is responsible for is tax deductible.
Both of Stow's attackers pleaded guilty earlier this year. A judge who called the two "complete cowards" sentenced the man on the right, Marvin Norwood, to four years in prison and Louie Sanchez to eight years in prison. (Via Getty Images)
