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The Verdin family filed a $ 17 million lawsuit against the Los Angeles Dodgers after it was allegedly attacked by security after the team’s Oct. 9 loss to the Washington Nationals.
KABC’s Leanne Suter reported the court filings of Rigoberto Verdin Sr. and his family members on Friday alleging that they were attacked because they are Latino. Claims include neglect, assault, battery, false imprisonment, and civil rights violations.
“Without warning, security jumped on my clients,” said Peter diDonato, the family’s attorney. “Not only were they boarded and detained, there were no questions about them. They were on the ground: strangulation, knee to neck.”
Rigoberto Sr. suffered hand and arm injuries, while his daughter, Jamie, suffered a broken nose, according to court documents. Her children, Rigoberto Jr. and David, were arrested but not charged after the confrontation with security.
The lawsuit alleges that David was strangled and when Rigoberto Jr. tried to intervene, he was approached and a security guard placed his knee on his neck, causing him to yell, “I can’t breathe,” according to KABC.
“I was in shock the whole time. It was unexpected, out of nowhere,” said David Verdin.
The family stated that the incident, which allegedly included security personnel who called them “gangsters, thugs and homies,” began after a man near them leaving Dodger Stadium was acting erratically.
By KABC: “None of the Verdins are gang members, and they were subjected to racial profiling despite the fact that more than half of the fans who attend Dodger games are Latino, according to the plaintiffs. “
Family members said their attempts to contact the MLB organization about “witness statements and other information” received no response, according to KABC.
The Dodgers haven’t commented on the lawsuit until Friday morning.
LA’s loss to eventual World Series champion Nats on October 9 ended its 2019 season. The 2020 campaign has yet to begin due to the coronavirus pandemic, although MLB announced Wednesday that it will tentatively open the regular season on the 23rd. July 24.
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