Fan sues pitcher over postgame fracas

[TexasStooge]

By WAYNE LOEWE, Court TV

SAN FRANCISCO (Court TV) — A San Francisco Giants fan who claims he was slugged by a former St. Louis Cardinals player in a postgame fight during the 2002 National League playoffs has sued the Cardinals and the pitcher for $11.5 million.

David Richardson, 36, of San Francisco, claims he missed six months of work, lives in constant pain and may need neck-fusion surgery because of the blow from pitcher Garrett Stephenson.

The incident occurred outside Pacific Bell Park on Oct. 13, 2002, after the Giants won Game 4 of the National League Championship Series. Richardson was in a crowd of fans who were pounding on the Cardinals' bus. He said Stephenson emerged, the two men exchanged vulgar hand gestures and then Stephenson punched him in the head.

The suit seeks $500,000 for emotional distress, $1 million for pain and suffering, unspecified damages for medical costs and $10 million in punitive damages. It was filed in San Francisco Superior Court in September and was transferred to federal court by the Cardinals last week.

The Cardinals declined to comment on the case.

Stephenson, a 31-year-old right-hander, had a 7-13 record and a 4.59 ERA for the Cardinals last season and became a free agent after the season.