Ain’t that America!
A greedy New Jersey woman is trying to cash in on a clutzy Little League catcher — claiming he intentionally beaned her in the face with a baseball during a warm-up session with his pitcher.
Elizabeth Lloyd, 45, is looking for a $500,000 payday after suffering a broken orbital bone during a May 2010 game at Manchester-Lakehurst field. She endured “severe, painful and permanent personal injuries,” the suit says.
“The thing about watching a Little League game is that you’ve got to be aware,” fumed Bob Migliaccio, the father of 13-year-old baseballer Matthew. “They’re little kids. A lot of them don’t know how to throw. It was an accident.”
Matthew was following his coach’s instructions when he was tossing the ball in left field with a pitcher who stood about 46 feet away, his dad said. But he overthrew, sending the ball over a fence and striking Lloyd — who was seated about 10 feet beyond the bullpen fence.
Migliaccio said he filed an incident report with the Little League himself, and his son checked in on the woman at least a couple of times after she was injured.
But he finds it ridiculous that his boy’s poor throw was interpreted as reckless assault and battery.
“We’re just pissed off,” Migliaccio railed. “When somebody accuses your child of something like this, it makes you mad.”
Lloyd claims her injuries racked up $150,000 in medical bills — but she is going after the full amount covered by the Migliaccio’s homeowners insurance policy.
Lloyd did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Matthew’s family attorney, Anthony Pagano, said the suit is frivolous.
‘This is disgusting,” he said. “This whole thing is ridiculous — a 13-year-old getting sued for throwing a baseball in a bullpen?”
Little League officials have refused to get involved in the case — despite several calls from Migliaccio. Little League spokesman Steve Barr said he hadn’t heard about Miggliacio’s pleas for help, and added, “We don’t comment on anything that is in litigation.”
“It’s between the lady who got hit and the youngster who threw the ball,” Barr added. “We’re not even involved.”
The spokesman said Little League’s insurance policy only covers players, coaches and on-duty workers — but no spectators.
The league’s refusal to get involved is stunning to Migliaccio — a longtime coach at his local league — and his wife, who volunteered as a concession-stand manager during games.
“I’m upset with the league and the heads of the league for not doing anything,” added Migliaccio, whose son still plays.
“It was just an accident,” the father explained.
“Unfortunately, she was hurt. But I’m not going to have my son feel like he did something wrong — he didn’t.”