Athletics utility player Zack Gelof has taken his Comerica Park injury into court, filing a lawsuit against the Detroit Tigers after a July collision in left field left him with a knee injury and time away from the field.
The complaint, filed Sept. 28 in Wayne County Circuit Court, names the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings Inc. and the Detroit-Wayne County Stadium Authority as defendants, according to Reuters. Gelof’s filing centers on a July 9 play while he was pursuing a foul ball, and Detroit acknowledged the case Tuesday. He is seeking unspecified damages tied to what his attorneys describe as physical, professional and financial harm.
The incident happened in the third inning while Gelof was in left field. He slid to make a catch near the foul line, but his momentum carried him into the fenced portion of the side wall. He left the game afterward.
Gelof’s lawsuit says his right knee hit exposed metal, ripping his uniform and causing a deep laceration below his kneecap. FOX 2’s reporting on the case said the cut narrowly missed his patellar tendon.
The injury landed Gelof on the 10-day injured list the next day, July 10, according to MLB’s transaction log. He did not get back into a Major League lineup until Aug. 10.
That stretch away from baseball is part of the damages claim. His attorneys say he missed about 30 days of professional baseball and continued to deal with the effects of the injury after returning.
The complaint doesn’t stop at the injury itself. It also attacks the condition of the fencing and the responsibility Gelof’s camp says the defendants had to address it. The filing includes claims of premises liability, negligence and negligent design and construction, according to WDIV, and also brings a claim against the Stadium Authority under Michigan’s public-building exception to governmental immunity.
Gelof’s attorneys argue the fencing did not provide enough protection or clearance in an area where players could be running or sliding. They say the defendants failed to spot the hazard or fix it with repairs, a redesign or added protection.
WDIV also reported that the complaint says padding was added within weeks of the collision. It included an August photograph that purported to show the area after padding had been installed. Attorney Jon Marko said basic protection could have prevented the injury.
Those are allegations in the lawsuit, not findings of fact. The Tigers have not publicly taken on the substance of the claims, and when asked about the case Tuesday, the club kept its response brief.
"We are aware of the lawsuit and do not comment on pending litigation," the team said Tuesday, according to The Associated Press.
Gelof’s request for damages includes medical expenses, pain and suffering, alleged lost wages and economic losses, emotional distress and attorney fees. No specific dollar figure was reported.
For Detroit, the lawsuit puts a summer ballpark safety issue back in the spotlight. Gelof is back in the lineup now, but the fight over what happened at Comerica Park is moving well beyond the field.
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