Jurors Begin Deliberations In Stow Beating Trial
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Jury deliberations began Thursday after closing arguments in the Bryan Stow beating trial.
Stow filed the lawsuit for negligence against former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and the Dodgers LLC, alleging the franchise did not provide enough security on Opening Day 2011 to prevent an attack that left him with severe brain damage.
"They didn't do diddly-squat. And the reason they didn't do diddly-squat was because they wanted to watch the ol' budget," Stow family attorney Tom Girardi said during closing arguments.
Rialto residents Louie Sanchez and Marvin Norwood are accused of repeatedly kicking Stow, of Santa Cruz, in the head in a Dodger Stadium parking lot after the game.
Both men accepted plea deals in February and were sentenced to prison.
Stow, now 45, nearly died in the attack and has permanent brain damage.
Girardi also claimed Sanchez and Norwood harassed other Giants fans during the game.
"Standing up, yelling foul things like 'F the Giants!,' throwing peanuts," he said. "It's the anybody but McCourt-Dodgers defense. The LAPD, the CHP, the FBI, fans etc."
McCourt's legal team argues that the security on Opening Day was the largest single security force ever presented at Dodger Stadium, and that Stow had a blood alcohol level of over twice the legal driving limit.
"Responsibility for what happened to Mr. Stow and this condition that he's in and all these medical bills he's had and will have, responsibility rests with them. They did this to him," attorney Dana Fox said as he pointed to pictures of Norwood and Sanchez.
"Don't let sympathy influence your verdict," Fox added.
Stow is said to be seeking damages of about $38 million for lifetime care, in addition to pain and suffering.
McCourt's attorneys estimate care to cost $11 million as they believe the attack decreased Stow's life expectancy by at least 10 years.
Stow, who did not testify, appeared in court Wednesday, but did not attend closing arguments. McCourt was not present either.
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