Jury Orders Jose Offerman To Pay Nearly $1M In Bat Attack Case
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Connecticut minor league baseball player hit by former Met Jose Offerman in a 2007 baseball bat attack has won nearly $1 million in a lawsuit, a lawyer involved in the case said.
A jury Tuesday awarded $940,000 to former Bridgeport Bluefish catcher Johnathan Nathans, who wanted $4.8 million. Nathans' lawyer, Josh Koskoff, said his client is still affected by the head injury he suffered in the attack.
"It's been a really long process, obviously," Nathans told WCBS 880. "Seven years is a long time to wait to hold somebody responsible for their actions. But the jury spoke, and they spoke loud and clear.
"I'm glad that finally things have come to a conclusion and that Mr. Offerman has finally been held responsible for his actions on Aug. 14, 2007, where he ended my career."
Offerman's lawyer, Frank Riccio II, said the jury found Offerman committed an assault but not battery. He said he may challenge the award.
Offerman testified he didn't swing his bat at Nathans and another player during the game in Bridgeport. He was playing for the Long Island Ducks in a major league comeback bid.
Offerman played for the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Mets and other teams during a 15-year career that ended in 2005.
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