The Colorado Rockies are headed for a third consecutive 100-loss season, but one fan has found a way to hold the team accountable — in court.
Timothy Roeckel of Parker filed a negligence lawsuit against the Rockies this week after he was struck in the face by a foul ball while sitting in a luxury suite at Coors Field during the 2023 season, according to the Denver Post.
Roeckel reportedly suffered “catastrophic and permanent injuries” to his right eye during the Rockies’ July 16, 2023, game against the New York Yankees, according to attorneys with the Denver law firm Nielsen Weisz, who filed the lawsuit Monday in Denver District Court.
The incident occurred in the bottom of the first inning. Roeckel’s attorneys claim he was unable to see the ball due to “architectural elements including the ceiling of the luxury box and the overhang of the stadium’s bleacher seats.”
“It was not physically possible for (Roeckel) to see the foul ball from the seat in question,” the lawsuit states.
Colorado law generally shields stadiums from liability when fans are injured during games, but Roeckel’s attorneys argue there should be an exception in this case, alleging the Rockies failed to make a reasonable effort to keep Coors Field safe.
The lawsuit contends the Rockies did not install adequate protective netting and instead promoted “non-spectating behavior,” such as dining and socializing, as well as in-suite video screens that distracted fans from the action on the field.
Attorneys also claim the team’s prolonged struggles contributed to the incident.
“Defendant’s longstanding poor performance on the field (has) contributed to a game-day environment in which spectators, particularly those in luxury suites, are less engaged with the action on the field,” the lawsuit states.
“This cultural shift is not incidental but rather encouraged by (the Rockies’) own marketing and design choices, which emphasize hospitality and off-field amenities over fan vigilance,” the attorneys wrote.
The lawsuit seeks a jury trial. A specific amount for damages was not disclosed.
