Former employee sues Blackhawks, alleging discrimination, wrongful termination

New York Times

a day ago

A former Chicago Blackhawks employee is suing the team for discrimination and retaliation, alleging he was treated differently by his supervisor for being gay, and then wrongfully fired shortly after being interviewed by Outsports, a website covering LGBTQ+ issues and individuals in sports.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday on behalf of Anthony Filomena, said the Blackhawks' former manager of public relations dealt with 'hostile and aggressive actions' from his supervisor, who was hired about a year into Filomena's two-year stint with the Blackhawks. It then states that Filomena was fired one day after complaining to his supervisor that he was being unfairly criticized for his interview with Outsports, an interview for which Filomena said he had direct approval from team chairman and owner Danny Wirtz.
Advertisement
Outsports published the interview on April 29, 2024. Three days later, the lawsuit alleges, Filomena was criticized by another senior employee, who told him the department 'was very angry about it.' Filomena said he requested permission from Wirtz in a text message earlier in the month after Outsports reached out to him, and that Wirtz approved, stating the article would boost the team's reputation in the LGBTQ+ community.
The suit says Filomena then told his supervisor that he believed the criticism stemmed from 'discrimination based on (Filomena's) sexual orientation.' The next day, May 3, 2024, Filomena was fired. The lawsuit says that Filomena had a 'perfect rating' on his performance review a month earlier, and that he 'met or exceeded performance expectations.'
In response to the lawsuit, the Blackhawks said Filomena was fired for other reasons.
'Mr. Filomena was terminated for cause due to multiple instances of misconduct over a period of six months,' the Blackhawks wrote in a statement. 'He received multiple written communications outlining expectations including a formal, final written warning prior to his dismissal. His termination was solely due to continued misconduct and disregard for our company policies.'
The lawsuit argues the team's 'stated reasons for termination — alleged policy violations and performance deficiencies — were either fabricated, exaggerated, or not the actual basis for the decision.'
'The proximity between (Filomena's) complaint about discrimination and his termination is direct evidence of retaliation,' the lawsuit alleges.
Filomena's lawsuit alleges that other employees who were not openly gay, 'who engaged in comparable conduct, were not terminated.' He is suing for back pay with interest, front pay, lost benefits, attorneys' fees, and compensatory and punitive damages. The situation, the suit says, has caused Filomena mental anguish, emotional distress, humiliation, degradation and loss of enjoyment of life.
Advertisement
The suit was filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
A former Blackhawks player, identified as John Doe, is also suing the team for its alleged failure to act upon sexual-assault allegations against former video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs. The team previously settled a high-profile lawsuit from former player Kyle Beach, who alleged Aldrich sexually assaulted him during the 2010 playoffs.
Wirtz and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation are being sued by a former independent contractor as well, who has accused them of breach of oral contract, fraud and violating the Gender Violence Act, among other counts.
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today's puzzle