Drunk Fan Hurt Woman At Dodger Stadium, But Staff Blamed Her: Suit

LOS ANGELES, CA — A judge has reinstated a lawsuit filed by a woman who contended that the Los Angeles Dodgers' medical team treated her with skepticism when she was stumbled into and injured by a drunk fan at Dodger Stadium in 2023 and that an LAPD officer later told her, "Everyone is drunk at Dodger Stadium."

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Holly J. Fujie had tossed Rebecca Arvizu's lawsuit against the World Series champions on May 12 because the team was never served with the plaintiff's complaint. The judge's dismissal was "without prejudice," meaning Arvizu was not barred from refiling the case later.

On Tuesday, Fujie restored the case to the court docket after receiving a request to do so from Arvizu's attorney, Patricia Rodriguez, as well as an explanation of what happened. Rodriguez states in a sworn declaration filed with the judge that she did not know until the day the case was dismissed that the court by May 9 wanted a separate, formal declaration regarding efforts to serve the complaint.

"Had I recognized that the court required a ... declaration in addition to actual service, I would have timely filed it," Rodriguez said.

Arvizu's suit alleges negligence, negligent hiring, supervision and retention, intentional infliction of emotional distress, civil rights violations and premises liability. Arvizu sought unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.

A Dodger representative previously said the team had no comment on Arvizu's suit. The city of Los Angeles and the LAPD were not defendants. The City Attorney's Office, previously offered a chance to comment anyway, did not do so.

In her lawsuit, Arvizu said she went to Dodger Stadium on April 18, 2023, a game in which Clayton Kershaw went seven innings, struck out nine and won his 200th game as the home team shut out the Mets, 5-0.

According to her suit brought Feb. 28, Arvizu was hurt when a drunken patron stumbled and collided with the plaintiff, causing her to fall over two rows of seats. She says she got a good look at the culprit, who fled to another level, and could have identified him in a lineup.

Arvizu further contended that security failed to look for the person who hurt her and that she suffered a broken arm, fractured ribs and a lacerated leg. Dodger staff members took Arvizu to the stadium's fan first aid room, where she says she was treated skeptically by white EMTs who left her on the floor for a long period and who also appeared believe that she was drunk because of her Latino.

Not happy with the team security's alleges poor response, Arvizu tried to report her injuries to the LAPD in early May 2023, but was told by officers and staff that what happened to her "did not constitute a crime because the individual involved was intoxicated and the collision was deemed an accident," the suit states.

One officer told Arvizu, "Everyone is drunk at Dodger Stadium," leaving the plaintiff with the impression the officer had a "dismissive" attitude toward the severity of what happened, the suit further states.

Arvizu says she ultimately convinced the officers to take a report, but that they "made it clear that no further investigation would occur," according to the suit, a decision that Arvizu believes was "motivated by racial bias," the suit states.

In addition to her physical injuries, Arvizu has suffered emotional distress and financial losses, according to the suit.

City News Service