Chicago Bulls Mascot Lawsuit: Right or Wrong?
The Chicago Bulls are being sued by a dentist who alleges he was injured following a run-in with team mascot Benny the Bull.
According to a report in the Chicago Tribune, Dr. Don Kalant Sr. filed a lawsuit Monday claiming he suffered a rupturing biceps muscle February 12 when a high-five with the fuzzy red mascot went awry.
“Benny’s flying down the aisle, giving everybody high-fives,” Kalant’s attorney, Shawn Kasserman, told the newspaper. “When he gets to Dr. Kalant, he either inadvertently trips or, as part of the shtick, trips. … He grabbed Kalant’s arm and fell forward.”
Instead of slapping Kalant’s palm, Benny the Bull - played by Barry Anderson - allegedly grabbed his arm as he fell forward, hyperextending Kalant’s arm and causing the injury.
An oral surgeon, Kalant is expected to miss as much as four months of work due to the injury.
Kalant, who remained at the game after the incident, is seeking unspecified damages for medical bills, physical pain and lost earnings.
The lawsuit claims Anderson was negligent in either “falling forward while grabbing a fan’s hand” or “running out of control” through the crowd. The Bulls are legally responsible as Anderson’s employer, the suit alleged.
Anderson also made news in 2006 when, dressed as Benny the Bull, he was arrested for allegedly punching an off-duty sheriff’s deputy who tried to stop him from riding a mini-motorcycle through Chicago’s Grant Park. Those charges were later dropped.
So what’s your opinion on this. Is it right or just….*snicker*…BS?
See, I figure if he stayed to watch the game, he wasn’t in THAT much pain.
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Comments
lol. I’m sorry, but being taken out by a mascot is so embarrassing! And that Bull is tough, he punched a cop for not letting him ride a mini bike. hahahaha! All the times I have attended games I have managed not to mingle with running fur balls. I say its BS.
What are you talking about? Thats such a good reason. Sue someone for a high five gone wrong…it’s as legit as suing McDonald’s for making you fat…Welcome to America.
That’s his fault. On the back of the ticket it says at your own risk. He voluntarily stuck his arm out there. It’s not the mascots fault that he made of glass.
1. You raised your hand and committed to interaction with the mascot.
2. You’re sitting courtside; you wanted to be there…what if a 6′10 240 lb. guy dove for the ball and flew into you tweeking your arm? Gonna sue?
3. So you wait till AFTER the game to get it checked out? Didn’t hurt that much at the time, right?
Where’s the common sense in our legal system? Always blame someone else, right?
this is how you make money in america, you sue people. the bull ruptured the guys bicep, put him out of work, the guy should definitely sue and get his money.