West Virginia residents may have heard about a man who suffered a brain injury while at a San Francisco park run by the National Park Service. He has filed a lawsuit against the United States government, the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.

The plaintiff is seeking $5 million in damages after his lawyer claims a 16-pound pine cone fell on him and crushed his skull while he was resting under a non-native pine tree.The attorney further said that the incident left the man with an irreversible brain injury. The plaintiff has already had two surgeries to treat the injury and is scheduled to have a third.

Since the incident occurred, the park has placed signs warning visitors about possible falling pine cones and has cordoned off the area where the man was injured. Neither the San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park nor the United States government had any comment on the matter.

A person who is injured because of dangerous hazards in a public space may want to meet with a personal injury attorney to discuss whether it would be advisable and appropriate to file a lawsuit against the owner or operator of the property under the theory of premises liability. An attorney will review the facts and circumstances and then determine if such a hazard should have or could have been removed or if adequate warnings were posted. Damages that could be sought in such a civil action could include the costs of medical care and treatment, lost wages and other applicable amounts.

Source: sfgate.com, “Man hit by 16-pound pine cone in S.F. park files $5 million suit”, Kale Williams, Oct. 12, 2015