'Institutional negligence at its worst': Firm explains lawsuit against Blackhawks

The law firm of Romanucci & Blandin held a news conference at their Chicago-based office Monday morning to shed more light on the suit the firm filed on behalf of a former Blackhawks player against the organization.

The suit, filed November 2, seeks a jury trial and includes six counts that claim negligence against the Hawks for how the organization failed to act when their client brought to light sexual abuse by former video coach Brad Aldrich. The minimum damages attached to each count is $50,000, but founding partner Antonio Romanucci said the firm will "be seeking way in excess of $300,000."

Romanucci began the 25-minute briefing by saying "this case is about institutional negligence at its worst" and that "the culture to win at all costs allowed a predator coach to abuse players."

"It took another brave player, Kyle Beach, to file a lawsuit and expose the dirty little secret that management had known all along," Romanucci said.

Beach's lawsuit was settled in December 2021. He was paid an unspecified amount in damages, and the Hawks were also fined $2 million by the NHL after the Jenner & Block report was released a month earlier.

Although their client's identity was not revealed Monday, co-counsel Jason Friedl did say John Doe was in his late teens or early 20s at the time of the abuse. John Doe is currently playing overseas.

Aldrich's abuse of Beach and alleged abuse of John Doe occurred during the Hawks' 2010 championship season. John Doe was a member of the Black Aces, a group of Rockford IceHogs who practiced with the Hawks during the playoffs.

The basis for this suit revolves around Aldrich's actions during this time.

The suit claims multiple incidents of abuse, including John Doe receiving a text message from Aldrich of Aldrich's genitals. John Doe showed this image to then-President John McDonough's secretary.

"She reported the incident to team management," Friedl said. "It included senior (vice president) of hockey operations Al MacIsaac. No action was taken."

Here are five other questions answered during the news conference:

Q: Why did it take John Doe so long to come forward?

A: Romanucci: "Like many survivors of sexual abuse and harassment, (he) feels an intense amount of personal shame, guilt and embarrassment. It took a long while for him to reconcile and now have this laudatory courage to come forward and make his allegations public."

Q: How did this abuse affect John Doe?

A: Friedl: "The experience of being sexually harassed, groomed, abused and assaulted changed the trajectory of his professional and personal life. It derailed his lifelong aspirations to play in the NHL. He continues to process the experience and is working hard to try to move on.

"It's difficult to explain the incredible impact this type of abuse has on a person. It challenges their mental health, relationships and careers."

Q: Could other players also have been abused?

A: Friedl: "There's every indication there could be more people out there. That's usually what happens. A predator takes advantage of the situation and doesn't just limit themselves to one or two people if the opportunity is available - and this was an opportunity-rich situation."

Q: What are the six counts filed against the Blackhawks?

A: Friedl: "Negligent hiring and retention of Brad Aldrich; negligent supervision; negligent infliction of emotional distress; intentional infliction of emotional distress; and violations of the gender violence act. The firm also alleges willful and wanton conduct, "a qualifier of disregard for player safety."

Q: What did you think of the Blackhawks' statement about the case?

A: Romanucci: "I don't think it said very much at all. ... I didn't see them really offer any apology to John Doe 1. I didn't see them give any statement of sympathy or empathy - just talking about what the organization is doing and really ignoring the John Doe aspect of it."

No date for a trial has been set.

Romanucci & Friedl told the Daily Herald that the "next step in the process is for Blackhawks to respond to the lawsuit filed on our client's behalf."

On Monday, the Hawks stood by their statement, which read in part: "We've changed as a result of what happened and implemented numerous positive improvements throughout our organization to ensure the safety and well-being of our players and employees. This includes completely rebuilding the leadership team with personnel who demonstrate our values and bring the right subject matter expertise in the critical areas of compliance and human resources, an expansive mental health program, and new reporting mechanisms and training for all employees."