Jury Clears Hot-Dog-Throwing Mascot

A second Jury has cleared Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr of negligence in a 2009 incident involving a foil-wrapped hot dog’s journey from the mascot’s paw to an unwary fan’s face. As part of his between-innings antics, Sluggerrr threw the dog behind his back, hitting Royals fan John Coomer hard enough for him to suffer a detached retina from the blow.

Coomer appealed the 2010 ruling, which found him fully at fault in the accident, absolving the Royals and their mascot of any responsibility or negligence. The second jury ruled that neither Coomer nor the Royals were at fault and that the accident, while unfortunate, was not due to negligence on anyone’s part. The fan, who is on the hook for over $15,000 in medical expenses for his eye injury, said he was disappointed in the ruling.

Contrary to rumors before the trial, the San Diego Chicken was not called as an expert witness.

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