Ex-player could participate in Blackhawks assault allegations review

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A lawyer representing a former Blackhawks player who alleges he was sexually assaulted by a then assistant coach in 2010 is open to the possibility of his client participating in the teams’ review of the charges under the right conditions.

A former federal prosecutor has been hired by the Blackhawks to lead what the team says is an independent investigative review of the allegations in a pair of lawsuits against the team. In an internal memo sent on June 28, CEO Danny Wirtz said Reid Schar and Jenner & Block LLP have been asked to follow the facts wherever they lead.

The first complaint alleges sexual assault by former assistant coach Bradley Aldrich during the teams’ race to the 2010 Stanley Cup title, and the second was filed by a former student Aldrich was convicted of assault in Michigan.

Susan Loggans, a lawyer who represents the former player and student, said on Monday that her clients were willing to participate in the Jenner & Block review. But she said they wanted to learn more about the parameters of the investigation, and wanted the opportunity to conduct their own interviews with key team leaders, past and present.

We were never told what the investigation includes, Loggans said. For example, are they just investigating whether there has been sexual misconduct, which seems to be very obvious, or are they going to investigate whether the Blackhawks knowingly allowed this to exist without doing anything? They never said what they were investigating.

Loggans also said the Blackhawks had not said anything about what part of the exam would be made available after its completion, or what they planned to do with the results.

Loggans said an attorney for Jenner & Block asked her if he could interview her clients, and she asked for more information and the ability to interview one or more team leaders on the same terms to interview her clients. clients.

They responded by saying they really couldn’t do that, Loggans said.

A message was left Monday asking for comment from the Blackhawks. In his June 28 memo, Wirtz said the team would refrain from any further comment until the independent review and legal proceedings are completed.

In his lawsuit, filed May 7 in Cook County Circuit Court, the former player claims Aldrich assaulted him and the team did nothing after notifying an employee. The lawsuit also alleges that Aldrich assaulted another unidentified Blackhawks player. The former player who sued and claims over $ 150,000 in damages is mentioned in the document as John Doe.

The eight-page lawsuit says Aldrich, then a video trainer for the Blackhawks, turned on porn and began masturbating in front of the player without his consent. He indicates that Aldrich also threatened to physically, financially and emotionally harm the player if he did not engage in sexual activity with him.

According to TSN, two Blackhawks players told then skills coach Paul Vincent in May 2010 of Aldrich’s inappropriate behavior. Vincent said he asked mental skills coach James Gary to follow up with players and management.

Vincent was called to a meeting with then-team president John McDonough, general manager Stan Bowman, hockey manager Al MacIsaac and Gary the next day. He said he asked the team to report the allegations to Chicago police, and the request was denied.

Vincent said in an email to the AP on Monday that he had not been contacted by Jenner & Block.

An attorney for Aldrich told Chicago public radio station WBEZ that his client denies the allegations in the lawsuit. In a May statement to the radio station, the Blackhawks said the allegations made to them were without merit.

After leaving the Blackhawks, Aldrich was convicted in 2013 in Michigan of fourth degree criminal sexual conduct involving a student and is now on that state’s sex offender registry.

The former student Aldrich was convicted of assault filed a separate complaint against the Blackhawks on May 26, claiming the Blackhawks provided positive references to Aldrich’s future employers despite allegations by at least one player and took no action to report the matter.

This costume says the student was a hockey player at Houghton High School near Hancock in 2013 when Aldrich sexually assaulted him at a season-ending rally.

Houghton police records indicate that an investigator contacted the Blackhawks about Aldrich, but human resources manager Marie Sutera only confirmed he was once an employee. She requested a search warrant or a subpoena for any further information regarding Aldrich.

The University of Miami in Ohio has also opened an investigation. Aldrich was employed by the school from June 2012 to November 2012. He resigned on suspicion of touching an adult male, the university’s lawyer told police.

A school spokesperson said Monday she was aware of two sexual assault charges involving Aldrich.

In November 2012, the University of Miami was made aware of allegations of off-campus sexual assault involving a non-student adult and Brad Aldrich, Jessica Rivinius said in an email to the AP. When the University of Miami Police Department contacted the alleged victim, they offered to assist the individual in filing a police report with the Oxford Police Department. The individual refused to report.

A second presumed adult victim came forward in 2018 and filed a police report with the University of Miami Police regarding an assault that took place off campus in 2012. This report was forwarded to the police department from Oxford.

Rivinius said the review of Aldrichs’ Miami employment is being conducted by Barnes & Thornburg LLP and the school plans to issue a report upon completion of the investigation.

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