As attorneys and legal professionals, we demand that Major League Baseball be investigated and held accountable for a decades-long, and ongoing, failure to protect fans from dangerous foul balls and bats which have caused serious injuries and fatalities in MLB stadiums and its affiliated minor league ballparks.

As Americans, we believe in the power of the law to ensure responsible business practices, and that MLB’s ongoing failure to protect fans from foreseeable risks of injury or death should have consequences. Whether through acts of regulation, government oversight, or legal proceedings, or all of the above, we believe it is time for decisive action to hold professional baseball to account.

As attorneys, we have dedicated our lives to upholding the rule of law and protecting the public interest, health and safety. 

Major League Baseball refuses to acknowledge fault for its role in knowingly putting fans in harm’s way for decades. We believe it is reasonable to assume that MLB has known of this threat to fan safety for at least 50 years, ever since the 1970 death of 14-year-old Alan Fish from a foul ball injury suffered at Dodger Stadium. We believe MLB has been especially callous in failing to take decisive mandatory action following the 2018 death of 79-year-old Linda Goldbloom, whose death was caused by a foul ball injury also suffered at Dodger Stadium.

These failures to protect fans are profoundly damaging to the public trust. These are violent incidents and, according to at least one recent court’s judgement, may be considered acts of willful and wanton conduct. To uphold the rule of law and our democracy, those with the power to respond must do so immediately and with the full force of their office.

Congress and the state legislatures must immediately enact a truth commission to investigate Major League Baseball’s role in potentially covering up this scandal, seek the disclosure of all available data and records pertaining to this matter, and pass strict laws and regulations to ensure that future risk of serious injury or death from foul balls and bats entering the stands is eliminated.

Legislators must investigate whether any activities of any person who contributed to the failure to protect fans from these profoundly damaging and foreseeable risks of injury or death may have been unlawful, and to make referrals to law enforcement where appropriate.