Man suing after giant pine cone crushes skull at San Francisco park

SAN FRANCISCO — A Navy veteran is suing after what his lawyer describes as a 16-pound pine cone fell and crushed his skull in San Francisco.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/1juNiqP ) that Sean Mace is suing the U.S. government, the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park for $5 million.

Mace's attorney Scott Johnson says the veteran was relaxing under a non-native pine tree at the maritime park when the cone fell, causing an irreversible brain injury. Johnson says Mace has had two surgeries and requires a third.

The park has already fenced off the grove and added signs warning "Danger: Giant seed pod falling from tree."

Representatives from the U.S. attorney's office and San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park did not return requests for comment.

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Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com