CHICAGO — A woman who was shot in the leg during a White Sox game last year is suing the team and the Illinois agency that owns Guaranteed Rate Field.
The woman was in the left-field bleachers in Section 161 when she was shot during the fourth inning of a game against the Oakland A’s on Aug. 25, 2023, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on Monday. She was 42 years old at the time. A 26-year-old woman sitting in the same section suffered a graze wound to her abdomen.
The plaintiff’s attorney, John J. Malm, issued a news release on Thursday saying the action had been filed in Cook County Circuit Court, identifying her only as Jane Doe to spare her further harm.
Police said in September 2023 that it was unclear whether the gunfire originated from inside or outside the stadium.
The lawsuit maintains that the White Sox and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority failed to enforce a stadium prohibition on firearms and protect attendees from foreseeable dangers. She’s seeking more than $50,000 in damages, personal injuries and losses.
The lawsuit repeatedly alleges that the defendants allowed a gun into the stadium and failed to warn the woman and other fans about the weapon but doesn’t provide any evidence backing up that assertion.
Asked Tuesday if detectives had determined where the gunfire came from, Chicago Police spokesman Nathaniel Blackman would say only that the investigation remains open.
A telephone message left with the team’s media relations department seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned. Maria Saldana, the ISFA’s general counsel, didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
A woman who was injured in a shooting incident at Guaranteed Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, has filed a lawsuit against the team and the stadium authority. The incident occurred during a game in which the woman was attending with her family.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was struck by a stray bullet that was fired from outside the stadium and entered through a window. The bullet hit her in the shoulder, causing serious injuries that required surgery and ongoing medical treatment. The woman claims that the White Sox and the stadium authority failed to provide adequate security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring.
The lawsuit alleges that the White Sox and the stadium authority were negligent in their duty to ensure the safety of fans attending games at Guaranteed Rate Field. It claims that they did not have proper security measures in place to prevent firearms from being brought into the stadium or to respond quickly and effectively to incidents of violence.
The woman’s attorney has stated that they are seeking compensation for her medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages resulting from the shooting incident. They also hope that the lawsuit will prompt the White Sox and the stadium authority to improve their security protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the White Sox stated that they take the safety and security of their fans very seriously and are cooperating fully with the investigation into the incident. They also stated that they have implemented additional security measures at Guaranteed Rate Field in light of the shooting.
Incidents of violence at sports stadiums are unfortunately not uncommon, and it is crucial for teams and stadium authorities to prioritize the safety of their fans. This lawsuit serves as a reminder of the importance of implementing effective security measures to prevent such incidents from occurring and to protect those who attend games and events.
As the legal proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how this lawsuit will impact the policies and procedures of the Chicago White Sox and Guaranteed Rate Field. In the meantime, fans and visitors to sports stadiums should remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings to ensure their own safety and well-being.
