St. Louis Blues Sued Over 2019 Stage Fall
A woman has taken the team to court over injuries sustained during a Stanley Cup celebration.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Hockey
Jessica Joniak has sued the St. Louis Blues and event organizers after falling from a stage in downtown St. Louis. The lawsuit stems from a 2019 incident where she allegedly suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Why it matters
The legal action highlights the responsibility of event organizers to ensure patron safety during large-scale public celebrations. The outcome could set a precedent for liability in crowded, high-profile victory events.
The lawsuit claims over $10 million in medical costs and lost wages resulting from the fall. Joniak filed the action seeking damages starting at $25,000.
The players
Jessica Joniak
She is the plaintiff in the lawsuit who claims to have sustained a traumatic brain injury during the 2019 event.
St. Louis Blues
They are the National Hockey League franchise named as a defendant in the injury lawsuit.
Robby Fabbri
He is a professional hockey player who allegedly invited the plaintiff onto the stage during the celebration.
Fair Saint Louis
This organization is one of the entities named as a defendant in the legal proceedings regarding the 2019 event safety.
The details
Joniak alleges she was invited onto the stage by Robby Fabbri during a 2019 Stanley Cup celebration before falling over sound equipment while attempting to exit. The complaint accuses the St. Louis Blues and Fair Saint Louis of failing to provide secure crowd control or safe egress routes.
Timeline
The fall occurred on June 19, 2019, during a victory celebration.
Jessica Joniak filed the lawsuit in February 2024.
The trial for the case began in September 2026.
The trial is scheduled to resume next week.
Season Trajectory
The trial forces a retrospective look at the 2019 St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup celebration, effectively casting a long shadow over the franchise's historic title win. By challenging the safety protocols of that era, the case impacts how local organizations must approach liability for future victory parades.
The litigation creates a potential financial liability for the St. Louis Blues and its partners that exceeds $10 million. Observers of the trial will monitor how the court interprets the definition of a safe exit route in the context of major public victory events.
The takeaway
Large-scale public events require rigorous planning and clear egress paths to avoid significant liability for organizers. Attendees should remain aware of their surroundings at crowded events, as the distinction between a celebratory environment and a hazardous site can disappear quickly.
What happens next
The trial is expected to resume next week, at which point testimony and arguments regarding the 2019 safety protocols will continue.
Further reading
For more news on the team, visit Hockey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
