Hockey Fans Sue AEG For Beating

Bruce Dobrowski and his wife, Catherine, filed the suit May 26 alleging Staples Center lacked sufficient security and the arena’s public address system was used to broadcast “spiteful fan-speech” directed against the Chicago Blackhawks and their fans during Game 3 of the NHL Western Conference finals, according to the complaint.

Bruce Dobrowski “was assaulted and battered inside the passage corridors of Staples Center, in plain view of the Defendants and their personnel,” the complaint says, by “obviously inebriated Kings fans … drunk with AEG-Staples Center vended alcohol and enraged by AEG-Staples Center loudspeaker propagated hatred for the opposing team with chants broadcasting ‘Go Kings, Kill Hawks…’”

Dobrowski says he and his friends were dressed in Blackhawks jerseys, which made them “unassuming prime targets” of scorn from Kings fans “in the absence of security and oversight.” The complaint claims Dobrowski was beaten “in plain sight of inept, understaffed and ineffective security leaving [him] to fend for himself rendered semi-conscious.”

Dobrowski says he suffered facial lacerations and fractures, and other injuries to his back, neck, upper torso and hands, as well as mental pain and suffering.

The suit alleges negligence, violation of safety statutes, and loss of consortium, and seeks medical expenses of at least $60,000 and $1.5 million in special damages, along with legal fees and interest. AEG did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, but generally does not comment on pending litigation.