'Land Shark Attack' Lawsuit Filed Against Miami Marlins

As shark attacks continue to make headlines across the country, one incident in Florida is heading to court.

A woman alleges she suffered serious neck injuries after mascot Bob the Shark came over to her during a Miami Marlins’ game on June 29, 2013, and “bit” her on the head. That woman, Beth Fedornak, has filed a lawsuit seeking damages in excess of $15,000 in the Miami-Dade County court system, according to court records. The negligence suit was entered into the record last month.

The incident in question occurred following a staged “mascot race” at Marlins Park. The race takes place during the sixth-inning break, featuring foam costumed characters, such as Bob, Julio the Octopus, Angel the Stone Crab and Spike the Sea Dragon. It was following that race when the alleged shark attack occurred.

Fedornak contends she was sitting in the third row up from the field when Bob the Shark came up and “pretended to bite her on the head.” The action, the suit posted on Deadspin contends, resulted in Fedornak feeling “immediate pain in her neck after the impact of the shark head (came) down on the top of her skull.” Fedornak, the suit says, notified Marlins’ staff of the incident and that she was “in significant pain as a result of this incident.”

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Since the close encounter with Bob, the suit says Fedornak has suffered “serious personal injuries, including but not limited to, injury to her neck, back and extremities. She has incurred significant medical expenses in the treatment of her injuries.”

The two-count lawsuit alleges negligence and battery. It was filed against the Miami Marlins and does not name Bob the Shark specifically as a defendant.

Court records show no hearing date has been set.

Florida leads the world in the number of annual shark attacks with 28 logged in 2014 alone. So far, 2015 has witnessed a number of attacks around the state, including one where a 60-year-old man was bitten while standing in two feet of water. So far, no land shark attacks have been recorded for the year.

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