DUCKS: Offerman hit with lawsuit

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Former All-Star Jose Offerman was

sued yesterday in a bat-wielding attack in an Atlantic League game that injured

two opposing players.

Bridgeport Bluefish catcher John Nathans filed the suit in U.S. District

Court in Bridgeport, seeking $4.8 million in damages. He says the attack left

him with permanent, career-ending injuries.

Offerman was batting for the Ducks against the Bluefish in Bridgeport on

Aug. 14, 2007, when pitcher Matt Beech hit him with a fastball. Offerman

charged the mound with his bat and swung at least twice, striking Beech and

Nathans.

An All-Star infielder with the Dodgers in 1995 and Red Sox in 1999,

Offerman had faced up to 10 years in prison on two felony assault charges. He

was granted probation in 2007, ordered to get anger management treatment and

pay the medical expenses of Beech and Nathans.

Nathans said he was hit in the head with Offerman's bat, causing a brain

concussion, inner ear damage, vertigo, headaches and post-concussion syndrome.

"I have tons of headaches every day, vomiting every week," Nathan said.

"There's not a day that I don't have symptoms. There's days I'm completely

debilitated."

Offerman's lawyer, Frank Riccio II, said he hasn't seen the lawsuit.

"All options will be weighed at the time we receive the suit," he said.

A call was left with the Ducks seeking comment.

Offerman was playing for the Ducks in an attempt to return to the majors.

The Atlantic League suspended Offerman indefinitely after the altercation and

he apologized. Offerman last played in the majors in 2005 with the Mets. He

batted .273 during his 15 seasons in the majors.

The middle finger on Beech's non-throwing hand was broken during the

scuffle. Beech was fined and suspended by the league.