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The Rangers are going to raise the rails in front of all seating areas

Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Josh Hamilton, fan

Police and fans look over the railing where a fan fell from the stands during the second inning of a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Oakland Athletics, Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. Shannon Stone, a 39-year-old firefighter from Brownwood, died at a hospital Thursday night, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office said. (AP Photo/Jeffery Washington)

AP

According to Evidence Rule 407, subsequent remedial measures are not admissible in order to prove liability for an accident. But they sure are interesting outside of the context of litigation:

The Texas Rangers have taken the first steps toward making their ballpark safer following the death of a fan during a recent game. The club announced Tuesday plans to raise the height of all rails in front of the seating areas “to the highest standard in the United States at this time.”

The team is going to have a press conference about it later this afternoon.

I have no desire to watch the video of Shannon Stone’s fall, but if anyone who has seen it has an opinion as to whether or not a higher rail would have helped prevent his death, I’d be curious to hear it.