A New Jersey woman is suing Major League Baseball because a foul ball hit her in the face at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She is also suing the city of Williamsport and the Williamsport Crosscutters, a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League.
The 57-year-old woman, Deborah Barbella of Livingston, claims a foul ball struck her in the head at the ballpark on May 2, 2025, during a college baseball game. Bowman Field is also the site of the annual MLB Little League Classic.
What kind of injuries did she allegedly suffer because of the foul ball?
She claims a foul ball ricocheted off a railing and struck her in the head. Her injuries, according to the complaint, included a concussion, a nasal fracture and an orbital floor fracture, causing vision problems that required surgery. Her lawyers state that she continues to receive treatment for the injuries she suffered, has permanent scars, eye issues, a need for physical rehabilitation, and diminished earning capacity.
Barbella is suing for unspecified damages exceeding $50,000. She alleges negligence, including failing to keep the stadium safe, make necessary repairs, and alert spectators to hazardous conditions, despite knowing the netting system was dangerous.
Why is she suing Major League Baseball?
According to her attorneys, MLB required all Minor League Baseball teams, including the Crosscutters, to install netting of a uniform height from foul pole to foul pole by the start of the 2025 season to protect spectators. MLB allegedly put off installing the necessary netting until the 2025 Major League and Minor League Baseball seasons had already started, despite being aware of this requirement for years.
“As early as 2022, the MLB established safety standards necessary for protecting fans, yet Bowman Field remained unprotected as the 2025 season began,” said Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan and the victim’s attorney Joe Swist. “Our client’s lawsuit alleges that MLB dragged their feet and allowed this dangerous condition to persist at Bowman Field, contributing to her devastating injuries. Our goal is to achieve justice for a woman whose life was permanently altered by an allegedly foreseeable and preventable incident, and to hold the League and the stadium accountable for their delay.”