Brian Stow Update: Reward Increases and Brain Injury Likely
Brian Stow, the paramedic who was attacked on opening day in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium, is in a medically induced coma. A piece of his skull was removed in order to relieve pressure due to brain swelling. There was always concern that he may suffer some brain damage, and now Dr. Gabriel Zada has stated that Stow is showing signs of "brain injury and dysfunction," and noted that there will be a long recovery process.
The full extent of Stow's brain damage cannot be determined at this time. There is a very wide range of residual effects resulting from a brain injury, from short term memory loss and change of personality to severe cognitive deficits. Depending upon the severity, Stow may require assistance in day-to-day activities. While he hopefully is on the course to recovery, there are many fundraising efforts in the works to help cover Stow's medical bills, as well as for expenses incurred by his wife and two young children as they remain in Los Angeles near the hospital. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, donations to Stow's medical fund can be sent to the Bryan Stow Fund, account No. 1377733, San Francisco Police Credit Union, 1495 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo CA 94402. There is also a blog organized by Stow's paramedic partner, Rebecca Mackowiak, that can be reached here.
As for the assailants, the reward offered by the LA City Council for information leading to their arrests has been increased to $100,000. The Dodgers and Giants have also offered rewards. City Supervisor Mike Antonovich continues to press for more security, stating, "[t]he Dodgers organization has an obligation to make security a top priority now. Denying that lack of security played a role in this attack is simply sticking their head in the sand."
My name is Christopher Fusco. I am the managing partner of Callahan & Fusco, LLC with offices in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
As a Dodger fan I don't see anything in the least that makes this an issue for the Dodgers. Keep in mind the shooting and fights that have occurred outside of AT&T Park in the past few years. It is amazing how quiet SF radio people have been about these incidents. Violence happens; it is who we are, it is what we do. It scares people, it is frightening, but at our core it is what we are and it is pathological.
As a human being, I am sick about what happened to this poor guy. He did not deserve this, not because of his wearing a Giants jersey at the park, not for any reason. What happened to him is a crime, the same that occurs everyday on the streets of every city in the U.S. San Francisco is no different. I think the focus should be on his recovery, on his family, and on catching and putting the people who attacked Brian in jail. To bring L.A., San Francisco, or baseball into this is obscene, immature, and inevitably pointless.
For a decade back in the 70's I ran three public attendance facilities - a sports complex. We not only
had professional sporting events, also we featured concerts and other major shows, exhibit shows, meetings
et al.
Ours were city-owned facilities. The contracts contained hold-harmless paragraphs protecting the city.
Promoters of all events were required to provide, among other things, adequate police staffing to protect arrival and departure of all in attendance as well policing during the event.
I know nothing of Dodger stadium. Based on my experience it is the sole responsibility of the owner, operator, promoter, whether municipal or private, of any public attendance facility to provide for absolute protection of patrons.
The prevalence of violence in our society should not, in any way, diminish said responsibility, culpability,
and ultimate financial liability for any injury
such as this sustained upon arriving, during, or leaving a public attendance event.