A family of Los Angeles Dodgers fans are seeking $ 17 million in damages for claims that they were racially discriminated against and treated with excessive force by team security personnel during a game last October.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday, stems from an incident that occurred after the Dodgers’ late-season loss to the Washington Nationals in Game 5 of the National League Divisional Series. from last year. He claims that seven members of the Verdin family were called “gang members” and “thugs” while being “harassed, attacked, and mistreated” by Dodger security employees despite being innocent bystanders near another fanatic who was “acting erratically, pushing and yelling at the plaintiffs and their family members. “
In a press release, the family’s attorney, Peter diDonato, said Dodger Stadium security, in this case a mixture of unauthorized people and out-of-order law enforcement officers, “attacked the Verdin, a Latino family without just cause due to illegal racial discrimination. ” The lawsuit seeks $ 7 million in damages for assault, battery, false imprisonment, inflicting emotional distress and a violation of federal civil rights, plus an additional $ 10 million in punitive damages, according to the statement.
A Dodgers representative said the team does not comment on pending legal issues.
The lawsuit claims that David Verdin, 24, underwent a strangling physical move and was repeatedly beaten on the body and head, and his brother, Rigoberto Verdin Jr., 26, was pinned to the ground and the officer’s knee was on his neck. Javier Verdin, 16, was allegedly thrown to the ground by Dodger Stadium security, and Jamie Verdin, 18, was hit in the face and fractured nose. David and Rigoberto Jr. were taken to jail, but no charges were filed, according to the lawsuit.
This represents the fourth civil lawsuit filed by diDonato against the security of Dodger Stadium in the last 14 months; the other three cases are still pending litigation.
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