PORTLAND, Ore. (WKRC) – A 9-year-old boy and his family was awarded over $15 million in a lawsuit against Topgolf that claimed the company’s negligence let to the child suffering a “serious brain injury” after being hit by a golf club.
The lawsuit stemmed from an incident that occurred on Nov. 11, 2021 during a birthday party at the Hillsboro Topgolf location in Oregon, per documents obtained by local outlet KOIN. Despite being behind the driving range’s red safety line, the child was hit in the head with a golf club hard enough to suffer a “serious brain injury.”
“As a result of the impact, [the 9-year-old] suffered an open, depressed skull fracture, orbital roof fracture, cerebral hemorrhage and traumatic brain injury,” the lawsuit read. “His injuries required emergency neurosurgery, including implantation of three craniomaxillofacial titanium plates.”
Additionally, the child was reportedly plagued with issues like nausea, headaches, issues with emotions and behavior, depression and anxiety, and facial pain. He also had to stop playing the many sports he participated in prior to the accident.
The lawsuit claimed that Topgolf failed to do enough to prevent or warn customers about the dangers possible at the location, and even allegedly failed to give the customers liability waivers.
The suit was filed on June 15, 2023, and on Thursday a grand jury agreed that Topgolf was 97 percent negligent for the child’s suffering and injury, while the parents that hosted the party were 3 percent negligent, according to court documents obtained by Daily Mail. The company was ordered to pay the victim’s family $15.8 million – $12.5 million for pain and suffering and $3.3 million for economic damages.
The company’s lawyer, Heidi L. Mandt, said that extensive safety measures had been taken to ensure safety, but an investigation found that between 2019 and 2021, guests were struck 27 times with clubs at the Roseville, California and Hillsboro, Oregon Topgolf locations.
Mandt attempted to point the blame at the individuals hosting the party, but it was revealed that employees’ failed to give the guests a mandatory safety conversation prior to playing.
