Bats Work Too Well: Louisville Slugger Liable for Death of Pitcher

A recent trial in Montana ended with the jury awarding $850,000 to the family of an amateur baseball pitcher who was killed by a ball hit back to the mound. The jury decided that the aluminum bat created a hazard because it allowed the hitter to hit the ball back so fast that the pitcher did not have enough time to react to the approaching ball. The jury found Louisville Slugger liable because it failed to adequately warn users of this danger associated with the use of the bat. It is interesting to consider how a case such as this one may impact entire industries, given that it sets a precedent for liability due to the use of a certain kind of product. In this case, could this be the beginning of the end for aluminum bats?