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Blackhawks fan files lawsuit; alleges drunken Kings fans beat him up in 2014 playoffs

Blackhawks fan files lawsuit; alleges drunken Kings fans beat him up in 2014 playoffs

A Chicago Blackhawks fan filed a lawsuit saying he was beat up by drunken Kings fans at Game 3 of the 2014 Western Conference Final at Staples Center last year.

The story, reported by the LA Daily News, says the following:

Bruce Dobrowski’s Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit against team owner Anschutz Entertainment Group alleges violation of a safety statute. His wife and fellow plaintiff, Catherine Dobrowski, alleges loss of consortium. They are seeking $1.5 million.

And why are they seeking such damages? The piece goes into greater detail:

The couple and some friends went to the game in Blackhawk attire, which made them “unassuming prime targets for the anger and hostility by Kings fans who had become fueled by the AEG-Staples Center’s unchecked provision for sale of beer and wine,” the suit alleges.

The anti-Blackhawk atmosphere was further exacerbated by arena loudspeaker broadcasts of hometown fans chanting such things as “Go Kings, kill Hawks,” according to the lawsuit.

Bruce Dobrowski and one of his companions were “brutally assaulted and battered, in plain sight of inept, understaffed and ineffective security,” the suit alleges.

It also says he was “rendered semi-conscious” and that he suffered a facial laceration, facial bone fractures, injuries to his back, neck and upper torso.

The story does not say anything about criminal charges.

As for teams being held partially responsible for assault, the Los Angeles Dodgers were found negligent in the debilitating beating of a Giants fan at a 2011 game. But two men also pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the attack.

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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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