An Illinois Circuit Court judge dismissed all of former Chicago White Sox trainer Brian Ball's remaining claims against the team related to Ball's 2020 termination.
A press release Windy City Times received from the team also stated, "In his February response to the Club's Motion to Dismiss, Ball voluntarily dismissed all claims against General Manager Rick Hahn personally, as well as two of Ball's original five claims against the Club. With yesterday's ruling, the Court dismissed the remaining three claims against the Club, thereby closing the matter, unless there is an appeal of the Court's ruling."
Last year, WCT noted that Ball alleged he was unjustly terminated in October 2020 without explanation, according to a press release from Winters Salzetta O'Brien & Richardson, LLC, the firm representing him. He added that, after allegedly being pressured to sign a separation agreement, it was discovered that after being with the team for two decades (as an assistant athletic trainer and a head trainer), the motivation for the termination was based on his sexual orientation.
The lawsuit alleged the team's conduct amounted to discrimination, defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Ball also claimed discrimination based on age and disability.
At the time, the White Sox stated, "The Chicago White Sox organization categorically denies the baseless allegations made by former Head Trainer Brian Ball in his lawsuit against the club." In a separate statement, Chicago White Sox Vice President of Communications Scott Reifert added, "One thing I will point out, and it is confirmed in Brian's suit, is that he was promoted to head trainer of the White Sox in 2018 with full knowledge of his sexual orientation."
—Andrew Davis
