Padres outfielder Tommy Pham blames San Diego strip club for his stabbing during a brawl as he returned to his car, claiming in suit that security 'escalated risk' by engaging in fight
Padres outfielder Tommy Pham has sued the San Diego strip club where he was stabbed last month during a brawl, claiming that security 'escalated the risk' to the Major Leaguer by 'participating in the fight and antagonizing' the combatants.
The 32-year-old Pham was not directly involved in the fight, but was stabbed by an unknown attacker, allegedly, as he tried to return to his car outside the Pacers Showgirls International gentlemen's club at around 10:30pm on October 11.
The police have not made any arrests in connection to the stabbing, but Pham is seen in security footage with a blood stain covering his lower back.
A statement released by the Padres at the time described Pham's injury as non-life-threatening.
However, in his lawsuit filed last week, Pham claims he suffered 'catastrophic injuries, which have and will continue to cause him significant economic damage, including but not limited to his earning capacity as an elite professional baseball player.'
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Padres outfielder Tommy Pham has sued the San Diego strip club where he was stabbed last month during a brawl, claiming that security 'escalated the risk' to the Major Leaguer by 'participating in the fight and antagonizing' the combatants
The 32-year-old Pham was not directly involved in the fight , but was stabbed by an unknown attacker, allegedly, as he tried to return to his car outside the Pacers Showgirls International gentlemen's club at around 10:30pm on October 11. The police have not made any arrests in connection to the stabbing, but Pham is seen in security footage with a blood stain covering his lower back
Pham, who said he was 'trapped' inside the club during most of the brawl, also accuses Pacers security of neglecting to call police or taking 'any reasonable measures to mitigate' the risk of the fight. Through his attorney, Ashkahn Mohamadi, Pham alleges that Pacers should have been aware of the possibility of a violent brawl due to previous 'incidents by third parties' at the club.
Initially, at least, Pham seemed to be recovering well following the stabbing.
'While it was a very traumatic and eye-opening experience for me, I'm on the road to recovery and I know I'll be back to my offseason training routine in no time,' Pham said in an October statement released by the team.
Two people who said they spoke with Pham told the San Diego Union-Tribune that Pham was leaving and saw an argument taking place near his car. One person told the paper that Pham was attacked after asking the arguing people to get away from his car.
Pham was stabbed in the lower back and the wound pierced all three layers of skin but didn't damage any organs, according to a statement from the Padres. The team said he was in good condition and is expected to fully recover.
Pacers Showgirls is an 'international gentleman's club' located in San Diego
'I'd like to thank the incredible medical staff at UC San Diego Health for taking such great care of me last night,' Pham said in a statement released by the team. 'I truly appreciate the hard work of the San Diego Police as well as they continue their search for the suspects.'
Pham was traded to the Padres last year after six seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays and St. Louis Cardinals.
Remarkably, this is not the first time Pham has been stabbed.
Pham, who said he was 'trapped' inside the club during most of the brawl, also accuses Pacers security of neglecting to call police or taking 'any reasonable measures to mitigate' the risk of the fight. Through his attorney, Ashkahn Mohamadi, Pham alleges that Pacers should have been aware of the possibility of a violent brawl due to previous 'incidents by third parties' at the club
In 2018, after suffering a batting cage accident that resulted in a cut to his head, he told reporters that the head trauma was nothing compared to other injuries he's endured.
'I've in been in some real pain before,' he said in 2018, as quoted by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 'I've been stabbed. I've been through a lot, let's just say that. I felt pain, but the only thing was that I couldn't get the blood to stop.'
Fox Sports' Jim Hayes followed up with Pham about the incident, revealing that the previous stabbing was the result of a domestic dispute with his stepfather.
'Tommy Pham gave me the back story on being stabbed,' Hayes tweeted in 2018. 'He said about 5 yrs ago his step father stabbed him just below the rib cage while they were fighting. Tommy said he was Ok, but there was quite a bit of blood.'
He hit .211 this year with three home runs, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases in 31 games, then batted .375 (9 for 24) in six postseason games before San Diego was eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
Pham previously tested positive for COVID-19 on July 3 before the pandemic-delayed season began.
Tommy Pham was, reportedly, not involved in the fight, but did end up getting stabbed