Government blames an inanimate object and its creator for a man's death. Appropriates $850,000.
Lewis and Clark County, MT. October 29, 2009 - A jury ruled that a baseball bat manufacturer can be held liable for the death of a pitcher who was hit in the head by a hard line drive. Hillerich & Bradsby, manufacturers of Louisville Slugger bats, was sued by the mother of Brandon Patch, who died in 2003 after a batter using an aluminum bat hit a ball into Patch's head before he could react. The jury awarded $850,000 to the family.