Former Major League Baseball Pitcher and Broadcaster Mitch Williams Files Lawsuit Against MLB Network for Breach of Contract, Wrongful Termination and Defamation, and Against Gawker Media for Defamation

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitch Williams, former Major League Baseball pitcher and television broadcaster, today filed a lawsuit in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Camden County, against MLB Network, and the publisher of the sports website Deadspin.com, Gawker Media LLC and Gawker Media Group, Inc.

The suit alleges that in May 2014, Mr. Williams was the victim of false and anonymous statements published by Gawker concerning his child's baseball game.  The suit further states that MLB Network, for whom Mr. Williams was a broadcaster, reacted to these false and anonymous allegations not by investigating what really happened but instead by forcing Mr. Williams to choose between continuing to be paid or attending his children's sporting events.  The suit alleges that when Mr. Williams refused to agree to MLB Network's demand that he not attend any of his children's sporting events, he was fired.

According to the Complaint, MLB Network, which is owned by Major League Baseball and Comcast, threatened Mr. Williams with termination unless he signed an Amendment to his Contract that would have prohibited him from attending the youth sporting events of his five children, including those of his 11-year old autistic son.  When he refused to sign away his rights as a father, the Complaint alleges, Mr. Williams was fired, resulting in MLB Network depriving him of an approximately $2 million contract balance.  As alleged, MLB Network's threats came after anonymous, defamatory articles were published by Deadspin.com (owned by Gawker), which falsely and maliciously accused Mr. Williams of potentially criminal conduct in ordering a beanball and using lewd language while coaching his young son's baseball game in May 2014 – despite MLB Network ignoring both written and video evidence contradicting the baseless accusations.

According to the Complaint, as a result of the defamatory statements made about him, the breach of his contract and his wrongful termination, Mr. Williams has also lost jobs with MLB.com, The Sports Network ("TSN") and FOX Sports. The Complaint specifies that Mr. Williams is seeking judgment against MLB Network and Gawker for an award of damages.

Mr. Williams is represented by Laura Carlin Mattiacci and Stephen G. Console of Console Law Offices LLC, an employment rights law firm with offices in Philadelphia and Moorestown, NJ. 

About Console Law Offices, LLC
Console Law Offices LLC is an employment rights law firm with offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Moorestown, New Jersey. Since its inception in 1990, the firm has specialized in the representation of current, former and potential employees concerning work-related matters. The lawyers at Console Law Offices LLC counsel whistleblower- employees who have been retaliated against and individuals who have been victimized by illegal employment discrimination and retaliation, including harassment at work. They also represent employees concerning medical leaves, disability benefits, wage and hour claims, employment contracts, severance agreements, stock option plans, and class action lawsuits. For more information visit: www.consolelaw.com.

SOURCE Console Law Offices, LLC