Man’s lawsuit against Chapman is delayed
Published 1:28 am Friday, November 15, 2013
MIAMI (AP) — A Cuban man’s lawsuit in South Florida against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman has been delayed until next summer.
Trial had been set for December, but a Miami federal judge agreed Wednesday to postpone it until June because the Cuban plaintiff is still imprisoned in Cuba. The plaintiff, Danilo Curbelo Garcia, claims that he was arrested in 2008 after Chapman falsely accused him of involvement in human trafficking.
Chapman’s lawyers deny the claim. Chapman defected from Cuba in 2009 and was later signed by the Reds, where he has become a top relief pitcher. Chapman in 2013 had 38 saves and 112 strikeouts to go along with a 2.54 earned run average.
Curbelo Garcia is seeking some $18 million in damages in the lawsuit originally filed in May 2012.