HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A woman is suing the maker of Louisville Slugger aluminum baseball bats over the 2003 death of her son, who was hit with a ball during a youth league baseball game.
Opening arguments began Tuesday in Helena's district court.
Debbie Patch says her teen son Brandon was pitching for the Miles City Mavericks when a ball hit by a Helena Senators batter struck him in the temple, causing a fatal injury. The batter was using a Louisville Slugger.
Patch claims Hillerich & Bradsby Co. knew their aluminum bats created a high probability of injury because they were designed to hit the ball with extreme force, and that the company should have warned users like her son.
But Louisville Slugger attorney Rob Sterup said the outcome could have been the same with any bat and baseball is a safe sport.