A former consultant on Native American affairs alleges team and owner Danny Wirtz dropped ball on several counts.
A former consultant to the Chicago Blackhawks is suing the team's charitable foundation, and chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz for fraud, breach of oral contact and sexual harassment.
Nina Sanders, who positions herself as an expert on Native American historical and cultural affairs, was hired in 2020 by the Blackhawks in their effort to improve relationships with local indigenous tribes. The lawsuit on her behalf was filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County (Illinois) on Tuesday by Chicago-based Jacobson Legal Services. Sanders is seeking a jury trial and an amount greater than $150,000.
The law firm has a history of representing plaintiffs in cases involving hockey and alleged sexual abuse. https://jacobsonlegalservices.com/survivors-of-sexual-abuse-by-thomas-chico-adrahtas/
Sanders alleges in the lawsuit that the Blackhawks were under public pressure to change their almost century-old team name and logo, one of the best-sellers on NHL jerseys and other licensed merchandise.
In the lawsuit, Sanders alleges that Wirtz promised he would create positions for American Indians, buy land to give to the Sac and Fox Nation and change the team's logo if she decided to accept the job. Wirtz didn't follow through on them, the lawsuit claims.
Sanders went on to allege that she told her immediate supervisor that an employee had been sexually harassing her and tried to force her into his hotel room in 2021. The harassment continued into 2022, but nothing was ever done, according to the lawsuit. Sanders also maintains she reported other incidents of male employees groping women.
Team Under Scrutiny
The Blackhawks have been under scrutiny in the aftermath of the the sexual assault and harassment of minor-league "Black Aces" players by former video coach Brad Aldrich during their Stanley Cup playoff run in 2010. After 2008 first-round draft pick Kyle Beach sued the team in 2021 and then came forward as one of Aldrich's victims, the Blackhawks commissioned a report by Chicago law firm Jenner & Block into the affair.
After the report was published in October 2021, then-GM Stan Bowman resigned and former coach Joel Quenneville, who had moved on to Florida, was forced to step down as coach of the Panthers.
A second, still-unnamed player filed suit against the team last fall claiming he also was on of Aldrich's victims.
As a result the Blackhawks and Wirtz maintain the team has a "zero-tolerance" policy on sexual harassment and other inappropriate workplace behavior. That stance led to the release of forward Corey Perry on Nov. 28, 2023. Perry, who turned 39 on Thursday, now plays for the Edmonton Oilers.
Sanders Suit Latest Legal Case
Wirtz ended Sanders' contract last summer, according to the lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Sanders accused the Blackhawks of failing to investigate and report sexual assault allegations against multiple individuals during the time she was contracted by the organization. Sanders alleged the Blackhawks attempted to silence her by isolating her position in response to her accusations.
Sanders also claimed she agreed to take the position after forming an oral contract with Wirtz to fulfill a list of promises related to the Native American community, including that Wirtz “would actively advocate to, and would change," the team's logo.
Per the lawsuit: “Mr. Wirtz intended for Ms. Sanders to rely on these false statements in the Oral Contract and induce her to accept employment with the Organization so that the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team could benefit from their association with Ms. Sanders, as her standing and reputation in the Native American community continues to pacify resistance to the Chicago Blackhawks Hockey Team’s continued use of Native American imagery in the team’s name, logo, and merchandise for Mr. Wirtz and the Organizations’ continued economic benefit."
The Blackhawks issued a statement in response to the lawsuit.
"The Chicago Blackhawks have a zero-tolerance policy for misconduct and take allegations of in the workplace very seriously. In response to Ms. Sanders' allegations, the organization immediately conducted a thorough investigation with the assistance of outside counsel, including interviews with internal and external parties, and review of pertinent materials and digital records.
"Based on the information available to us, we found insufficient evidence to substantiate her claims. Of note, the persons identified by Ms Sanders in your question are not, have never been independent contracts with nor employees ot the Chicago Blackhawks."
The Blackhawks statement also carefully referenced the quality of Sanders' work. The team said it gave her guidelines last year and she chose not to return.
"Although the Chicago Blackhawks valued the consulting relationship with Ms. Sanders, the organization had noted operational issues in her work, and had received feedback from external partners that they did not want to continue to work with her.
"As such, in June 2023, based on specific initiatives slated for the upcoming season, the organization made an effort to extend her contract, with very specific deliverables, commensurate with work and responsibilities needed. Although initially agreeable to the new terms, Ms. Sanders ultimately made the decision not to renew her contract and has not worked with the organization since."