Harughty went to the emergency room, where she learned her finger had been severely fractured, KTRK reported. She underwent surgery in which doctors placed two screws in her finger and had physical therapy, but pain and swelling continued. She underwent a second surgery months later and had the screws removed, but still has little to no use of the finger.
Medical bills have surpassed $15,000, according to ABC News. Harughty said she went to the team for compensation, but they refused. So, she filed the lawsuit on Monday, asking for $1 million in damages and claiming that her finger is irreparably injured.
“It was a life-changing event that I think if it happened to anybody else … they would feel the same way,” Harughty said, according to ABC. “It has nothing to do with the Astros.”
The Astros addressed the claims in a statement to PEOPLE.
“The Astros are aware of the lawsuit with allegations regarding Orbit’s t-shirt launcher. We do not agree with the allegations,” the statement reads. “The Astros will continue to use fa popular t-shirt launchers during games. As this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment on this matter.”
The lawsuit accuses the team of negligence, noting that the Astros failed to use reasonable care when firing the t-shirt cannon, according to the
Harughty spoke through tears as she told KTRK of her financial needs.
“I have a quiet life. It was an unfortunate accident, and we were just asking for some compensation for medical bills,” she said. “I’ve never sued anybody in my life.”
Harughty’s lawyer, Jason Gibson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from PEOPLE.