Harold Reynolds sues ESPN over firing
Michigan
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By Michael Hiestand, USA TODAY
Former ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds on Monday filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the cable network in a Connecticut state court.
Reynolds was fired in July after signing a six-year contract in March that his suit claims would have paid approximately $1 million annually.
Reynolds' suit seeks at least $5 million for that lost contract as well as unspecified amounts for "damages for lost future opportunities."
Reynolds, who worked at ESPN for 11 years, claims in his suit that he was "widely regarded as having excellent moral character" at the cable network. The suit says Reynolds' contract said he could be fired for "failure to perform" — which the suit said never happened — or "egregious action ... which would constitute an act of moral turpitude." But the suit adds that ESPN gave Reynolds "no specific reason" for his firing.
The lawsuit does mention that Reynolds gave an "innocuous hug" to a female intern who didn't express any discomfort and "made no complaint until approximately three weeks later."
The suit also claims that ESPN won't allow Reynolds or workers for Connecticut state agencies to gain access to his personnel file. It also says that ESPN's investigation into Reynolds' alleged misconduct was inadequate.
Reynolds told USA TODAY on Monday that, after private negotiations with ESPN, he "agonized" over filing his suit. But, he says, "it's time for me to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough.' ... The main thing is I need to clear my name. ... There are so many rumors and misinformation flying around, it makes me sick."
Reynolds added that his "conscience is clear" and he's done nothing wrong.
ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys responded Monday that Reynolds' suit is "without merit. We stand by our decision. We have no further comment now that litigation has begun."
Rumor I heard was that he was hitting on women all over the place at the ESPN office. This was not a one
time hug. Story goes that he was told by management to knock it off due to complaints they were getting
but he wouldn't stop, so they fired him.
Former ESPN baseball analyst Harold Reynolds on Monday filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the cable network in a Connecticut state court.
Reynolds was fired in July after signing a six-year contract in March that his suit claims would have paid approximately $1 million annually.
Reynolds' suit seeks at least $5 million for that lost contract as well as unspecified amounts for "damages for lost future opportunities."
Reynolds, who worked at ESPN for 11 years, claims in his suit that he was "widely regarded as having excellent moral character" at the cable network. The suit says Reynolds' contract said he could be fired for "failure to perform" — which the suit said never happened — or "egregious action ... which would constitute an act of moral turpitude." But the suit adds that ESPN gave Reynolds "no specific reason" for his firing.
The lawsuit does mention that Reynolds gave an "innocuous hug" to a female intern who didn't express any discomfort and "made no complaint until approximately three weeks later."
The suit also claims that ESPN won't allow Reynolds or workers for Connecticut state agencies to gain access to his personnel file. It also says that ESPN's investigation into Reynolds' alleged misconduct was inadequate.
Reynolds told USA TODAY on Monday that, after private negotiations with ESPN, he "agonized" over filing his suit. But, he says, "it's time for me to stand up and say, 'Enough is enough.' ... The main thing is I need to clear my name. ... There are so many rumors and misinformation flying around, it makes me sick."
Reynolds added that his "conscience is clear" and he's done nothing wrong.
ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys responded Monday that Reynolds' suit is "without merit. We stand by our decision. We have no further comment now that litigation has begun."
Rumor I heard was that he was hitting on women all over the place at the ESPN office. This was not a one
time hug. Story goes that he was told by management to knock it off due to complaints they were getting
but he wouldn't stop, so they fired him.
0
Comments
<< <i>ESPN fired to wrong person...KRUK needs to be the one fired! >>
Agreed. They jerk makes fun of handicapped people and still puts his fat white-trash face on my TV.
Don't worry. HR is just groping for answers. He'll be back on a network in some capacity soon.
Remember these Chuck Norris Facts
1. When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down
2. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, Chuck Norris can actually roundhouse kick you yesterday
3. There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
<< <i>Ex-star Harold Reynolds claims contract breach, seeks millions
OCTOBER 31--Claiming that he was improperly fired for apparently giving an "innocuous hug" to a female intern, former ESPN announcer Harold Reynolds has sued the sports network for breaching his million-dollar contract. In a Connecticut Superior Court lawsuit, a copy of which you'll find below, Reynolds, 45, claims that ESPN has refused to provide any explanation for his July termination. Published reports have claimed that Reynolds, a former baseball All-Star, was bounced in connection with some type of sexual harassment. In his lawsuit, Reynolds contends that, at the time of the "brief hug," the intern "never expressed any discomfort" and that she had dinner with him that same evening at a Boston Market restaurant. Reynolds, who signed a new six-year contract in March, is seeking damages in excess of $5 million. He is described in the complaint as an "extraordinarily generous person, especially with children, but also with his coworkers." Additionally, the document notes, "He does not drink, smoke, or use foul language." (5 pages) >>
<< <i>Court documents are found on the thesmokinggun.com site
<< <i>Ex-star Harold Reynolds claims contract breach, seeks millions
OCTOBER 31--Claiming that he was improperly fired for apparently giving an "innocuous hug" to a female intern, former ESPN announcer Harold Reynolds has sued the sports network for breaching his million-dollar contract. In a Connecticut Superior Court lawsuit, a copy of which you'll find below, Reynolds, 45, claims that ESPN has refused to provide any explanation for his July termination. Published reports have claimed that Reynolds, a former baseball All-Star, was bounced in connection with some type of sexual harassment. In his lawsuit, Reynolds contends that, at the time of the "brief hug," the intern "never expressed any discomfort" and that she had dinner with him that same evening at a Boston Market restaurant. Reynolds, who signed a new six-year contract in March, is seeking damages in excess of $5 million. He is described in the complaint as an "extraordinarily generous person, especially with children, but also with his coworkers." Additionally, the document notes, "He does not drink, smoke, or use foul language." (5 pages) >>
>>
There are all sorts of possibilities here. He could have pressured her for sex at the dinner and she turned
him down and he continued to go after her at work and management told him to stop it etc.
We will just have to wait until the trial (if it happens) to get a fuller picture of what was going on (if anything).
<< <i>I am sure this was not the first incident.
>>
In what way are you "sure"? What has Harold done to you personally and what kind of conduct have you witnessed? I had no idea you worked for ESPN.
That must be a really cool job. Do you know Dan Patrick? I can't figure if he's smug and full of himself or just tongue-in-cheek. Any insights into Mr. Patrick?
Where did you go to school for journalism? I heard they favor local guys--certainly east coast guys. Any truth to that? Anyway, it's cool that a guy who actually
works for the network can offer us the inside scoop! Bring it on!
dgf
<< <i>
In what way are you "sure"? What has Harold done to you personally and what kind of conduct have you witnessed? I had no idea you worked for ESPN. >>
There have been rumblings for years about Reynolds' inappropriate behavior. And it takes more than one offense for ESPN to turn on one of its own.
<< <i>That must be a really cool job. >>
I wouldn't know - I never professed to work for ESPN. Nice assumption, though.
<< <i> Do you know Dan Patrick? I can't figure if he's smug and full of himself or just tongue-in-cheek. Any insights into Mr. Patrick?
Where did you go to school for journalism? I heard they favor local guys--certainly east coast guys. Any truth to that? Anyway, it's cool that a guy who actually
works for the network can offer us the inside scoop! Bring it on!
dgf >>
I am sure that someone such as yourself can read between the lines of Reynolds' firing and figure out this wasn't the first time he'd acted inappropriately. Do you *honestly* think that they'd off a guy they just signed a contract extension for earlier this year without just cause?
Come on now, you seem to be a lot more intelligent than that!
<< <i>None of us "know" the extent of his alleged activities, but you have to wonder if there were so many of them and so well known, then why did ESPN extend his contract 5 years, 4 months before they fired him? Read between that line!!!!!!!!!!
We don't know the exact time frame from when the contract was extended and when the alleged incident(s) occured. He might have
hit on a large number of women in a very short period of time. The "innocent hug" might not have been as innocent as portrayed if
he was putting his hands where he shouldn't have etc. Basically I think this is going to come down to a "he said, she said" argument
in court.
Good god people will stick up for athletes no matter what, it seems.
<< <i>
<< <i>None of us "know" the extent of his alleged activities, but you have to wonder if there were so many of them and so well known, then why did ESPN extend his contract 5 years, 4 months before they fired him? Read between that line!!!!!!!!!!
We don't know the exact time frame from when the contract was extended and when the alleged incident(s) occured. He might have
hit on a large number of women in a very short period of time. The "innocent hug" might not have been as innocent as portrayed if
he was putting his hands where he shouldn't have etc. Basically I think this is going to come down to a "he said, she said" argument
in court. >>
Most of things we don't know like I said I was commenting about those speculating, please go to this link it will tell you exactly when the contract was extended, March 2006 it was agreed to extend it and as the lawsuit states, it was for 6 years with the comment this is longer than most contracts ESPN extends. Let me repeat I am not criticizing ESPN or defending Mr. Reynolds, my comment should be read in the context of the almighty Axtell telling us it doesn't take much to read between the lines. Well I tried and it makes no sense to me that if this was an ongoing problem with Mr. Reynolds and widely known as another suggested why would they agree to extend the contract and 3 months later fire him. At the very least its an interesting point. link to lawsuit
One last point, unlike some here I don't say something to get a reaction or hear myself speak, I made the comment because what Axtell said struck me as self-promoting his superior knowledge. After a while one gets tired of this. I've never met a single sole in my 57 years of life on this planet who always right about everything, Axtell included.
BTW I was President of a corporation at one time and have offered a few contracts to employees and prior to that I ran the HR Dept at the company, so I been around the block a couple of times, not that this makes me right but like I said the circumstances of the extension at the very least seem unusual given the point that was made that it was well known at the time. It very well could be that this was only discovered in the intervening 3 months. This we don't know, but to say you can glean what was going on by reading between lines is not accurate. And if this gets settled out of court which they usually do, we will never know the truth.
<< <i>One last point, unlike some here I don't say something to get a reaction or hear myself speak, I made the comment because what Axtell said struck me as self-promoting his superior knowledge. After a while one gets tired of this. I've never met a single sole in my 57 years of life on this planet who always right about everything, Axtell included.
I've never claimed I am right about everything, as I have made many retractions here when I have errored.
<< <i>I've never claimed I am right about everything, as I have made many retractions here when I have errored. >>
Well you can start with 'errored' I think you meant 'erred'?
And yes you have stated in the past that you are always right, and it is like pulling teeth to get you to acknowledge that you are wrong. You will lie, twist and circumvent any conversation when it was proved that you were wrong.
Steve
quit rerailing and ruining threads.
<< <i>I've never claimed I am right about everything, as I have made many retractions here when I have errored. >>
I think you 'errored' again Axhole.
Try using 'erred'
steve
Have at it boys, thanks for ruining yet another thread with your petty hatred and bile.
errored? another typo huh?
ruining of threads? jeese did I not say that about you over and over the past few days? looks like you be using my material as well.
and for the 3rd time it is 'ERRED' !
Steve
Oh yeah --
<< <i>I've never claimed I am right about everything, as I have made many retractions here when I have errored. >>
As a long time user of the CU forums, I agree that Axtell can get on your nerves. For instance, he claims to be an expert on steroid use when he follows up on what the media simply tells us. He seems to know a lot about the subject that I've spent many years researching
However, I will say that most of his posts are rational and I have personally seen him retract his mistakes.
Just saying....
Remember these Chuck Norris Facts
1. When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down
2. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, Chuck Norris can actually roundhouse kick you yesterday
3. There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
<< <i> BTW I was President of a corporation at one time and have offered a few contracts to employees and prior to that I ran the HR Dept at the company, so I been around the block a couple of times, not that this makes me right but like I said the circumstances of the extension at the very least seem unusual given the point that was made that it was well known at the time. It very well could be that this was only discovered in the intervening 3 months. This we don't know, but to say you can glean what was going on by reading between lines is not accurate. And if this gets settled out of court which they usually do, we will never know the truth. >>
Although I haven't been around as long as you
Remember these Chuck Norris Facts
1. When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down
2. According to Einstein's theory of relativity, Chuck Norris can actually roundhouse kick you yesterday
3. There are no such things as lesbians, just women who have not yet met Chuck Norris
megatron
I agree most of his posts are rational. he does afterall have over 12k of them. No one is saying that he is always irrational. It probably is close though, 6k irrational 6.5k rational.
as for retracting statements, only after he tries to twist his way out of it I imagine he has ( I have never seen him, nor can i remm him retracting anything btw)
Mike
I am probably just as guilty now as he is with all the flaming he and I do but after taking his crap for so long I now just bash him whenever I get the chance. You could say that I despise him, and that is sad.
Steve