Mets’ Coleman May Be Sued : Jurisprudence: Action, stemming from incident that allegedly left 2-year-old girl injured, might include Davis, Dodgers and Mets.

Attorneys for the family of a 2-year-old girl reportedly injured by a powerful explosive device Saturday at Dodger Stadium said Wednesday that they plan to file a lawsuit against New York Met outfielder Vince Coleman, who allegedly tossed the device 15-20 feet from a group of fans.

At a news conference in Glendale, attorney Darrell J. York said the lawsuit might include as co-defendants Dodger outfielder Eric Davis and the Dodger and Met organizations.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office is expected to decide today or Friday whether to file criminal charges in the case.

When the law firm finishes its investigation, it will allow about 30 days for a possible settlement before suing, attorney Ron J. Insalaco said.

Insalaco said the firm will seek punitive damages. California law precludes specifying an amount for this type of lawsuit.

Three fans--including Cindy Mayhew, 33, of Covina; and an 11-year-old boy--were reportedly injured in the incident, which occurred near a chain-link fence that separates fans from the players’ parking lot, behind the stadium’s left-field pavilion.

The lawsuit was to be filed in behalf of Amanda Santos, 2, who sustained second-degree burns under her right eye, an injury to her right index finger and lacerations of her cornea, according to her attorneys.

Her parents, Derek and Marivell Santos, speaking briefly at the news conference, said Amanda stood behind the fence, trying to get an autograph, about 15 to 20 feet from a Jeep driven by Davis.

Marivell said Coleman got out of the vehicle and lit a fuse.

“I thought it was a smoke bomb,” Marivell said.

After an explosion, Amanda was struck by debris, and her face and fingers started bleeding, the Santoses said.

Amanda was taken to Glendale Adventist Hospital, then transferred to the L.A. County Medical Center because of her eye injury.

After being released from the hospital Sunday, Amanda has been seen by a pediatric ophthalmologist, although the extent of her eye injuries has yet to be determined.

The Santoses said their daughter’s behavior has changed abruptly since the incident.

“She’s real quiet,” Marivell said. “She’s afraid for people to come around her.”

The Santoses said they were surprised and upset that neither the Dodgers nor the Mets have offered apologies.

“I thought maybe someone would call to see how my daughter was doing,” said Derek, who motioned briefly toward two large photographs of Amanda placed on a stand in a room crowded with reporters.

The Dodgers, through a spokesman, declined comment.

Met General Manager Joe McIlvaine called the incident regrettable, according to Newsday, but the team is withholding further comment until the district attorney’s office makes a decision.

Coleman’s attorney, Michael Nasatir of Santa Monica, confirmed that Coleman had called the Santos family trying to apologize. The Santoses were not home and Coleman left a message, Nasatir said.

“He wanted to talk, father-to-father,” Nasatir said.

Coleman, who was benched Tuesday and Wednesday, has refused comment, but Nasatir said his actions were clearly unintentional.

L.A. County arson investigators have been examining the device’s debris, trying to determine the nature of the explosive, said Greg Somes, deputy district attorney.

Arson investigators are expected to release their findings today or Friday, and then a decision on whether to prosecute will be made by several attorneys, Somes said. Usually, only one attorney makes that decision.

“It’ll be a decision by committee . . . because it has so much interest,” Somes said.