Current:Home > FinanceSecond fan files lawsuit claiming ownership of Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 baseball -TrueNorth Finance Path
Second fan files lawsuit claiming ownership of Shohei Ohtani’s 50-50 baseball
View
Date:2025-04-15 04:57:30
MIAMI (AP) — The claim to Shohei Ohtani’s potentially lucrative 50th home run ball grew more complicated this week, with a second fan filing a lawsuit asserting he had possession of the historic baseball.
According to online records, the latest suit was filed by Joseph Davidov in Florida’s 11th Judicial Circuit Court, and the defendants are Chris Belanski, Kelvin Ramirez, Max Matus and Goldin Auctions. Belanski is the man who left the stadium with the baseball. Matus — who filed the first lawsuit last week — and Ramirez have also claimed ownership of the ball.
Ohtani became the first player in baseball history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases, reaching the mark on Sept. 19 with his homer in Miami against the Marlins. The bidding for the baseball through Goldin Auctions is currently at $1.464 million.
Because of a ruling related to Matus’ lawsuit, the ball can’t be formally sold until a hearing that is scheduled for Oct. 10.
Davidov claims in his suit that he was able to “firmly and completely grab the ball in his left hand while it was on the ground, successfully obtaining possession of the 50/50 ball.”
The suit goes on to say that “an unknown fan wrongfully jumped over the railing, jumped onto the Plaintiff and Plaintiff’s arm and attacked the Plaintiff causing the 50/50 Ball to come loose and roll into the hands of Defendant Chris Belanski.”
Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
The first lawsuit claims that Matus, a Florida resident who was celebrating his 18th birthday, gained possession of the Ohtani ball before Belanski took it away. Part of the presentation by Matus’ attorney on Oct. 10 will be video of the scramble for the ball in the stands.
“Max successfully grabbed the 50/50 ball in his left hand and intended to keep it,” the lawsuit stated. “Unfortunately, a few seconds later, defendant Belanski — a muscular older man — trapped plaintiff’s arm in between his legs and wrangled the 50/50 ball out of Max’s left hand.”
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
veryGood! (22)
Related
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- An Alabama sculpture park evokes the painful history of slavery
- Wayne Simmonds retires: Former Flyers star was NHL All-Star Game MVP
- What is the average life expectancy? And how to improve your longevity.
- Costco membership growth 'robust,' even amid fee increase: What to know about earnings release
- Trump’s lawyers say it is impossible for him to post bond covering $454 million civil fraud judgment
- Horoscopes Today, March 17, 2024
- Subpoenas on Maui agencies and officials delay release of key report into deadly wildfire
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Illinois voters to decide competitive US House primaries around the state
Ranking
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Uncomfortable Conversations: Did you get stuck splitting the dining bill unfairly?
- Former Vice President Mike Pence calls Trump's Jan. 6 hostage rhetoric unacceptable
- Ed Sheeran takes the stage with Indian singer Diljit Dosanjh in Mumbai for surprise duet
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- PACCAR, Hyundai, Ford, Honda, Tesla among 165k vehicles recalled: Check car recalls here
- DAY6 returns with 'Fourever': The album reflects who the band is 'at this moment'
- Lawsuit accuses NYC Mayor Eric Adams of sexually assaulting a woman in a vacant lot in 1993
Recommendation
Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
Sunken 18th century British warship in Florida identified as the lost 'HMS Tyger'
Supreme Court extends block on Texas law that would allow police to arrest migrants
Wayne Brady sets the record straight on 'the biggest misconception' about being pansexual
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
Maryland House votes for bill to direct $750M for transportation needs
Men’s March Madness bracket recap: Full NCAA bracket, schedule, more
Man seeks clemency to avoid what could be Georgia’s first execution in more than 4 years