A healthcare executive is seeking $10 million in a federal lawsuit against the New York Yankees, alleging a traumatic brain injury sustained at Yankee Stadium was due to inadequate safety netting. The suit claims that on June 2, 2026, Cleveland Guardians infielder Jose Ramirez lost control of his bat during a game, and it flew into the stands, striking Stephanie Duluc.
Duluc, 37, chief of staff at SOMOS Community Care, was seated in fourth-row seats directly behind home plate when the incident occurred. Her employer owned the season tickets for the section. The lawsuit asserts that this area, despite being a prime location with supposedly protective netting, had a significantly lower net than adjacent sections, creating an "unprotected opening."
The bat, according to the suit, bypassed the netting and struck Duluc with enough force to knock her from her seat and cause severe and permanent injuries, including a traumatic brain injury and concussion. The suit states she has suffered persistent headaches, light sensitivity, balance issues, and cognitive impairments that prevent her from returning to her professional duties.
Duluc's attorney, Jon L. Norinsberg, addressed concerns about a recent television appearance by Duluc, stating that a brief appearance does not contradict her ongoing disability. "Ms. Duluc continues to suffer significant residual deficits from her traumatic brain injury, including persistent headaches, sensitivity to light, balance issues, and other cognitive impairments," Norinsberg said. "A brief television appearance does not mean she has recovered or is capable of performing her professional duties on a sustained basis."
The lawsuit is expected to contend with the "Baseball Rule," a long-standing legal doctrine that often shields teams and owners from liability for fan injuries caused by balls or bats. However, the suit highlights an exception to this rule: stadiums are required to provide adequate protective netting in the "zone of greatest danger," which includes the area directly behind home plate. Whether Duluc can prove the netting in her section was defective could be a critical factor in the case.
The Yankees organization declined to comment on the lawsuit. Previous incidents, including a 2015 injury at Fenway Park and a 2017 incident at Yankee Stadium involving a foul ball, have led to expanded netting requirements in baseball stadiums.