Manning v. Grimsley

Manning (plaintiff), watching from the bleachers, was struck by a warm-up pitch thrown by Orioles pitcher Grimsley (defendant), who had repeatedly glared at hecklers continuously heckling him while he warmed up in a nearby bullpen; at one point Grimsley faced the hecklers, wound up as if pitching to an imaginary catcher, and the resulting throw sailed into the bleachers and hit Manning. The district court directed a verdict for the defendants on Manning's battery claim, and a jury found for the defendants on negligence; Manning appealed the directed verdict.