Timothy Roeckel was hanging out in a luxury box at a Rockies game as a guest of the box's owner when, out of nowhere, a foul ball hit him right in the eye.
Timothy Roeckel suffered 'catastrophic and permanent injuries' when he was hit in the face and right eye by a foul ball during the Rockies' July 16, 2023, game against the New York Yankees, attorneys for Denver firm Nielsen Weisz wrote in the lawsuit filed Monday in Denver District Court.
So yeah, he's suing.
There's just one problem (besides the fact that Roeckel didn't bring his glove to the game):
Colorado law disallows lawsuits like this for fans injured at sports stadiums. By attending the event, you're essentially accepting the risk that a ball player might knock a ball into the stands.
However, Roeckel is arguing that the stadium was negligent about safety, so the lawsuit should be allowed.
Roeckel couldn't see it coming because of 'architectural elements including the ceiling of the luxury box and the overhang of the stadium's bleacher seats,' the lawsuit states.
‘It was not physically possible for Roeckel to see the foul ball from the seat in question,' his attorneys wrote.
So, his lawyers are arguing that someone spent thousands of dollars on a luxury box that did not have a view of home plate?
Who would go to a baseball game if you can't see home plate?
The lawyers anticipation of that response in their argument is hilarious.
You see, the Rockies play so poorly, people don't even go to watch the games anymore.
‘Defendant's longstanding poor performance on the field has contributed to a game-day environment in which spectators, particularly those in luxury suites, are less engaged with the action on the field,' attorneys with Nielsen Weisz wrote.
That's caused a stadium culture shift toward focusing on socializing, dining, and networking, the lawsuit states.
‘This cultural shift is not incidental but rather encouraged by the Rockies' own marketing and design choices, which emphasize hospitality and off-field amenities over fan vigilance,' Roeckel's attorneys wrote.
Roeckel is requesting injury compensation and an unspecified amount for damages.
Win or lose, I hope the guy got his ball signed before he dissed the team.
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