Woman files lawsuit against Cincinnati Bengals
A woman claims that two intoxicated spectators at a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers fell on her, breaking her finger and nose and causing other injuries.
Rebecca Dunn and her husband Curtis Dunn from Owensboro are suing the Bengals, the stadium and the beer vendor for negligence, after they kept serving alcoholic beverages to “noticeably intoxicated” fans at the game on September 27th 2009. Jack
Brennan, spokesman for the Bengals, wouldn’t comment on the lawsuit. The stadium vendor, Aramark Corp., wouldn’t either. Officials from Hamilton County also refused to provide details about the case. The couple says that two men sitting behind them had been
served alcohol before falling on her. She sustained a broken and gashed nose, broken finger, sprains, bruises and other injuries. The claim seeks monetary damages for future and past pain, as well as medical treatment, which they say has cost over $20,000.
The Dunn’s are also suing the fans, simply referred to as John Doe and John Doe II, accusing them of battery. The lawsuit says,
“As a direct and proximate result of their intoxication, [the two men] lost control and fell on [Rebecca Dunn], causing catastrophic injuries that required nose surgery and continuing orthopedic and other medical treatment. The incident also broke her $700
Oakley sunglasses and caused the couple to incur other expenses -- they had to spend the night in a downtown hotel because the stadium garage closed after the game before they could retrieve their car.”
They are also seeking disciplinary damages. A hearing is scheduled for next month, with the lawsuit having been filed on 29th November. The Bengals and other teams in the NFL try to control disruptive fans through implementations, such as the
“Jerk” line, which can be called during the game to report unruly fans. A separate lawsuit is pending in New York against the New York Mets and other defendants. A woman filed the lawsuit, having been hospitalized with spinal injuries, following a drunken
fan falling on her in 2007. Joshua D. Kelner, the Dunn’s attorney said that although the lawsuits will be decided by state law, teams are required to control the crowd and that the alcohol vendors may be held responsible for the actions of the patrons.
On a happier note, the Bengals won the game with a comeback victory over the Steelers, 23-20.
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