Class Action Lawsuit Alleges ‘Mislabeled’ Easton Baseball Bats Are ‘Substantially’ Heavier Than Advertised

Easton Baseball / Softball, Inc. and Easton Diamond Sports, LLC are the defendants in a proposed class action lawsuit filed by a plaintiff who alleges “poor quality control measures” are to blame for some baseball bats being heavier than advertised. Filed in California, the 17-page lawsuit, citing volumes of customer complaints, says many models of Easton bats “actually weigh substantially more” than the defendants let on.

Easton bats are known in baseball circles to be some of the most popular (and expensive) on the market, the lawsuit says, noting that many of the defendants’ customers are middle and high school children. Many of Easton’s customers also include parents who the lawsuit describes as “generally more discerning” when it comes to selecting a bat that may optimize on-field play.

The complaint points out that even a slight departure from a bat’s advertised specs—the diameter, length and weight—affect not only a player’s performance, but can also present an injury risk to everyone on the field, as well as to those watching:

“Even a small difference in weight of 1oz or less is significant and material to the young boys and girls who play and compete with Easton bats. A bat’s weight affects a number of important performance factors, such as how easy it is for a player to control the bat when swinging it across the plate, the speed and power of the swing, and the player’s batting stance.

In addition to performance issues, a bat that is too heavy can also be a safety hazard. Young players who inadvertently play with a bat that is too heavy will fatigue faster, wear out their arms and shoulders, and suffer a heightened risk of sports injuries.

Moreover, bats that are too heavy pose a risk to others as well. Little-league baseball fields are smaller than ordinary baseball fields, and a ball hit with too much force will cause greater injury in the event it strikes a spectator or player in the outfield." 

According to the lawsuit, absent an obvious defect, Easton will not replace or refund a customer seeking to return a bat once it’s removed from its packaging.

Per the plaintiff, the case says the man’s minor son plays baseball in Alabama. The bat the man purchased purportedly weighed 22 ounces. In truth, the case claims, the bat was roughly three ounces heavier than stated on its label. As a result, the plaintiff’s son reportedly could not use his Easton bat as intended.

The lawsuit seeks to cover a proposed class of consumers who bought any model Easton baseball bat that was “misrepresented or falsely labeled” as lighter than it actually is.