Man Receives $1.2 Million After Getting Hit in the Groin With a Baseball

by Jon Azpiri | November 12, 2008 at 11:02 am

1095 views | 7 Recommendations | 14 comments

A Florida jury has awarded $1.2 million in damages to a man who was hit in the groin by a baseball while at a batting cage.

Lhyvann Felipe took a 60 mph pitch to the groin after taking a few swings at Sluggers batting cage in West Miami. An employee asked him to go back into the batting cage to help pick up stray baseballs. The employee thought the pitching machine was turned off, but the machine shot out a baseball that struck Felipe in the groin. Felipe was hospitalized after the incident.

The court ordered that Felipe be awarded $160,000 for medical expenses and an additional $1 million for pain and suffering.

While there no doubt that a 60 mph baseball to the groin would cause plenty of pain and suffering, some question whether the award was a little too generous.

Second, the man did not go to the hospital until several days later. Again, really? As a man, a shot to the groin does not last that long. How do you really go so long without getting that checked out if the "pain and suffering" was worth $1 million?
Next, should Slugger's really be held responsible for this? The kid didn't have to go back into the cage and pickup the baseballs. But since he did, and got hit, is it really the fault of the batting cage place? Shouldn't the company that makes the pitching machine be held accountable for faulty equipment? The cycle on the machine was complete, and the light on the machine was off.

Could the employee really have seen that one coming? Doubtful.

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JeffHuang

at 12:40 on November 12th, 2008

When you are in the batting cage, the ball goes faster than you expect. It is pretty dangerous in there, but getting awarded 1.2million?? thats a lot of money.

romorga

at 15:28 on November 12th, 2008

I love to collect baseballs from places I visit in the U.S. they are a super souvenir, this ball is my absolute favorite.

romorga has contributed a photo to this story.

conrado4

at 16:12 on November 12th, 2008

I am so tired of lawsuits because people are stupid.....If your stupid and need help around the world that requires common sense....stay home and hurt yourself there!

Bryan Mason

at 16:36 on November 12th, 2008

The above photo is Evan Williams, CEO of Twitter, killing time in Vegas before he went back to losing money.

Bryan Mason has contributed a photo to this story.

candacejean

at 17:56 on November 12th, 2008

I'm pretty irritated by all these money-hungry morons finding excuses to sue. What are the judges thinking awarding them so much money?! ESPECIALLY if this guy in particular waited several days to get his crotch checked out. And what could a doctor have done that this jerk accrued $160k in doctor bills? SERIOUSLY?

"Drop your pants. Ohhh, gosh. I bet it hurt. Welp, take some tylenol. Here is your bill."

Granted, a 60mph hard little baseball to the package probably would drop someone to their knees and hurt REAL bad, but batting cages have warning signs EVERYWHERE. Anybody smart would also have common sense to realize they are at risk of getting hit once they go in to a cage.

Damn you, Felipe. For deciding to go to the hospital DAYS after the incident and being convinced to sue for THAT MUCH MONEY, I hope that the baseball that slammed into your groin left you sterile. Ugh.

candacejean has contributed a photo to this story.