A Cook County Circuit Court judge has put the brakes on the Chicago Blackhawks' attempt to dismiss a former player's lawsuit over allegations the team was negligent in handling sexual assault and harassment complaints against then-video coach Brad Aldrich. The ruling, chronicled by the Chicago Tribune, ensures that the suit moves into the discovery phase, rejecting arguments that the statute of limitations had expired for the anonymous former player referred to as "John Doe".
Back in the day, Doe was on the 2009-10 "Black Aces" squad of the Hawks, and the lawsuit puts forward that the team covered up Aldrich's alleged misconduct, especially crucial during a Stanley Cup run. Doe's case mirrors that of Kyle Beach, another former player who settled his suit with the Hawks last year. Now, the judge agreed with Doe's claim that a five-year window to file the suit began in October 2021, following the publication of an independent investigation by law firm Jenner & Block, "Jason Friedl, a senior attorney with Chicago-based law firm Romanucci & Blandin, told the Tribune.
This courthouse drama follows the Blackhawks' unsuccessful motion to limit Doe's filing timeframe to a usual two-year window for discovering one has a claim. This would have rendered Doe's November 2, 2023 suit filing tardy, but the court found the argument of fraudulent concealment sufficient to prolong the deadline. According to ABC7 Chicago, Doe's attorney, Jason J. Friedl stated, "There are no surprises or novel arguments in the motion to dismiss and we will respond accordingly through our briefs."
Much of the contention during the court's examination hinged on conversations with James Gary, the Hawks' then-mental health coach. Doe alleges Gary, in his dual role as an agent of the Hawks and therapist, not only made misleading statements but also downplayed his experiences and discouraged him from pursuing action. The Blackhawks, tight-lipped on the litigation front, have maintained their stance on being devoted to a safe workplace, with organizational reforms and pieces of training instituted post-investigation.
The discovery process will peak at a summary judgment hearing, where the judge will either decide to toss the suit out or greenlight a jury trial. Until then, all eyes will be on this legal skirmish that drags past grievances onto the current ice, with the Blackhawks under scrutiny for what exactly transpired off the rink over a decade ago.
